SWIMMER Adam Nelson will be representing Bury in a youth sport festival in Italy next month.
The Haslingden High School Year 9 student is a member of Ramsbottom Amateur Swimming Club.
For Adam, 13, swimming helps him because he has hypermobility, a syndrome which affects his ankles.
He said: “I was diagnosed very young and was encouraged to swim to reduce the strain on my ankles when I exercise.
“I have special inserts in my shoes and had an operation when I was 11.”
Adam, who enjoys cycling as well as swimming, will be competing for Bury against youth teams from Portugal, Spain, Germany, France and the host country Italy.
The International Youth Sport Festival will be in Dueville and is a celebration of youth sport and culture.
In total, 45 young people will be in the squad representing Bury and they will take part in basketball and football as well as swimming.
Adam said: “I will be swimming back stroke against older swimmers and front crawl against people my own age.
“I am really looking forward to it and I am also looking forward to visiting Venice. We have two days of training and competitions in Dueville before going to Venice.”
Bury Council Community Club Development Officer Amy Goddard said: The proposed trip will have many benefits to the development of the young people in terms of respect and cultural awareness, healthy lifestyles, social opportunities, independence, confidence, foreign travel and budgeting.”