JUDO: Harry Lovell-Hewitt ready to strut his stuff for Team GB

The 17-year-old will join some of the country’s brightest young stars who will head to Tbilisi, Georgia, to take on the best the continent has to offer.

Lovell-Hewitt has been in fine form this year when he took gold in European Cup Cadets in March and also put in a solid performance at the European Under-17 Championships.

But he says the chance to represent Team GB tops it all and the Stroud Judo Club ace believes the experience is one that can help him reach the highest level.

“It really means a lot to be selected for Team GB, I have wanted to represent my country since I started in judo,” he said.

“So to get selected is amazing and I just want to go out there and do myself proud and do well for my country.

“It has been a goal of mine to make this tournament and I knew I had a chance but it was still a big surprise to find out I had made it.

“I think the experience is something that is going to be huge for me and it will be amazing to be a part of.

“Hopefully I can learn a lot from it and can put in some good performances.”

While Lovell-Hewitt is looking to soak up all the experience he can from the trip, he is not just looking to make up the numbers.

The Gloucester College student has already set his sights on a medal in Georgia and thinks if he performs to his best then it could be within his grasp.

“I am definitely looking to get a medal out there and I think I am capable of doing that,” he added.

“If I do manage to do it then it would mean so much to me and would mean that all the hard work I have put in over the years has been worthwhile.

“The long term goal for me is to go to the Olympics and I have my eyes on Tokyo 2020.

“To go and compete there at the home of judo would just be incredible and experiences like this are the way to help me get there.”

To follow the team out at Tbilisi 2015 visit www.TeamGB.com or via Twitter using @TeamGB