Douggie Ashby from London has been selected to be part of the fencing squad at the 2017 School Games National Finals.

The School Games are an integrated multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes and will take place at Loughborough University from August 31- 3 September, 2017.

Douggie, 17, who is a student at the St Benedict’s School in London and is a member of the St Benedict’s School Fencing Club, will compete for the England squad in the Fencing. He already has an impressive record of success and represented Great Britain in this year’s European Championships.

Around 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the School Games, seven of which include disability disciplines. The four-day event is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

Douggie will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the School Games before going on to senior international success.

Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and GB sprinter Adam Gemili.

The School Games are the springboard for future athletes: 56 of the 382 athletes representing Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio competed at the School Games.

At the event Douggie will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level. He will live in a dedicated Athletes’ Village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in an Opening Ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds of spectators.

“I actually joined my school fencing club by accident when I was in Year 3, but it’s obviously turned out for the best!” said Douggie.

“The School Games National Finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Douggie,” said Ali Oliver, Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Sport Trust.

“Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”