ONE of Europe's top discus throwers, the Isle of Wight's Nick Percy, has realised his lifelong ambition of being chosen to take part in the Olympic Games.

Nick has this week been selected to represent Team GB at the Paris Olympics, which starts later this month. 

The 29-year-old Scot, from Bonchurch — currently ranked 34th in the world and second in Great Britain — goes into the Olympic Games in the form of his life.

He did his ambitions for selection a world of good when he (yet again) smashed his own Scottish record earlier this year, with his best-ever throw of 67.73m, in the United States. at the Oklahoma Throws Serie on April 6.

His throw met Olympic qualification standards — beating his previous best of 65.00m at the UK Athletics Championships, in Manchester, two years ago, but finishing fifth.

Nick, who attended Ryde School, has since thrown three other distances of more than 65.00m — all in Oklahoma.

Even before he got the call rubber stamping his selection, but safe in the knowledge his throw reached Olympic qualification standard, Nick said he had no shame in admitting he would be "a blubbering mess" and that it would be "pure joy" when the call came in.

"It has been such a long journey of big PBs when I was younger, then a few years where I didn't get it together, but throwing events take a long tome to develop," Nick explained, in an interview with Scottish Athletics.

"The sacrifices made over the years to fulfil this dream have been worth it."

Nick, born in Scotland, but who grew up on the Island, had a record breaking 2023 and won gold representing the Isle of Wight at the Island Games in Guernsey. 

The 2024 Olympics discus qualification rounds start for Nick on Monday, August 5, with the final, should he successfully make it through, at the magnificent Stade de France on Wednesday, August 7. 

A five-time British champion and 2016 NCAA discus champion, Nick made his Great Britain and Northern Ireland senior debut at the London 2017 World Championships.

In 2022, Nick represented GB and NI at the World and European Championships, finishing fifth for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.