HIS sport may not be in the Olympic Games but that is not stopping Wokingham gymnast Dominic Mensah from striving to reach the top.

The 18-year-old is a tumbler and has been since childhood, first honing his schools in South London before moving to Pinewood Gymnastics Club due to the better facilities.

It’s a switch which has certainly been worthwhile for the talented teenager, who came fourth in last year’s British Championships and has his eyes on the podium this year.

But he is far from done there, looking to set the world alight having done exactly that at the Junior World Championships back in 2017.

“Tumbling is not in the Olympics, so we only have the World Championships and the European Championships – I’d like to be medalling individually and in the team,” said the St Mary’s University student. “They’re both as important to me as I’d like to be winning for myself and as a team.

“We’ve got an event called the World Games which comes around every four years. The next one is in 2021 so I will hopefully be on the team for that.

“Tumbling only gets one male and one female representative for that so to be selected means that you are the sole best in the country.

“We know what it takes, we became the first junior boys team to win a gold medal for Britain at a European Championships so we’re really proud of what we’re able to achieve.”

Mensah was speaking at a SportsAid workshop being hosted by the Mayor of London’s office, which is supporting over 75 athletes from in and around the London region, at the London Stadium.

SportsAid helps the most promising young British athletes by providing them with financial support, recognition and personal development opportunities.

The haul of up-and-coming athletes, covering all the London boroughs, from more than 30 sports are receiving £1,000 awards to help with their training and competition costs as they bid to become the country’s next generation of sporting heroes.

The awards, distributed through SportsAid, will see athletes recognise their position as role models to others, and how their stories may help to increase community pride and engagement through inspiring people to take part in sport and physical activity.

SportsAid alumni Anthony Ogogo, Goldie Sayers and Leon Taylor, as well as Commonwealth gold medallist Ama Agbeze, were all on hand at the workshop to provide advice to the athletes.

And Sayers, an Olympic bronze medallist, said: “I was a recipient of the SportsAid award probably 20 years ago now and I kept the letter because it meant so much to me at the time.

“It’s the first recognition that people have seen what you’ve achieved and are supporting you along the way, so for me I like to give back to organisations that helped me in my career.

“The financial support is important but I think more than that, it’s just knowing that an organisation had recognised you as a young athlete with potential to be a senior international.”

The Mayor of London is working with SportsAid to provide financial support and personal development opportunities to talented young athletes from across the capital. Visit https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/sports/sport-unites/sportsaid to find out more.