Teenage swimmer Harry Parker has been selected to compete at this year's Sainsbury's School Games in September.

The 16-year-old from St Albans will represent England East in the swimming, just one of 12 sports being contested at the four day event in Manchester which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

Parker said: "I am very proud to have been selected for the Sainsbury’s School Games as it is a very prestigious event. To be part of it and to represent the team is something I am very much looking forward to.

"My main aim is to compete well for the team to try and place them as highly as possible. I am looking forward to the experience of the athlete’s village and meeting new people from all different sports across the country.

"In the build up to the Sainsbury’s School Games I will focus on the specific racing skills as opposed to stamina building, so that I am ready to perform to the best of my ability."

A number of British stars have all been on the same journey and experienced competing at the Sainsbury’s School Games before going on to sporting success at a senior level.

In 2008 Team GB’s rising star of the heptathlon, Katarina Johnson-Thompson bagged a gold medal and with it the record of 1.78m in the girls’ high jump. Paralympic swimming gold medallist, Ellie Simmonds took gold and two silvers in the pool in 2006. Paralympic gold medallist sprinter Jonnie Peacock came first in 2009’s Ambulant 100m, setting a then record time of 12:85.