RISING star Thomas Carney is going from strength to strength in his quest to become a big name in the sport, with competitions scheduled in Vienna and Munich next month to compete as part of Team GB.

The youngster, who has been a highly valued member of the Weymouth Taekwondo Club for the last 10 years, is already a Second Dan black belt, represents Great Britain in the cadet boys’ section, and is a member of the British Poomsae Squad.

Carney’s journey in the sport started at just four years of age when he attended an open day at the outdoor education centre and showed an early interest.

He entered his first competition in 2010 and won gold, demonstrating an early talent. Since then the talented prospect has competed at both national and international level and has won more than 18 medals in various competitions across the board.

In February 2016, Carney took part in the British International Poomsae Championships, with top athletes from across the Commonwealth, Europe, and the world competing in a total field of 520 in varied categories.

In his own section, he competed in the A class under-14 individuals, pairs, and team events, where he sealed a silver in the team competition.

In March, Carney competed in the Chungdokwan National Championships and won gold and has also had the privilege of training with Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones and bronze medallist Martin Stamper.

The youngster is looking to push his career forward in the sport, but is looking for help from around the area.

A spokesperson for the youngster said: “Being with the British squad requires a high level of commitment and sacrifice on his part, requiring travelling great distances for training and competitions including travel abroad.

“Thomas already has important competitions this year scheduled for Vienna, Germany, Manchester, Scotland and Nottingham.

“His ultimate goal for his future is to represent Great Britain in both the World Championships and Commonwealth Games. To make all of this a reality Thomas needs support to help him attend all upcoming training sessions.

“This is just the start of Thomas’s Taekwondo journey and you could be a part of this future.”

*If you are interested in sponsoring Carney’s development, please email sport@dorsetecho.co.uk