ELITE Isle of Wight athlete, discus ace Nick Percy, will be throwing everything he's got into the next fortnight or so in the aim of bringing home an Olympic Games medal.

Nick, one of Europe's top discus throwers, arrived in Paris this week having realised his lifelong ambition of being chosen to take part in the Olympic Games, wearing Team GB colours.

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. 

The 29-year-old Scot, from Bonchurch, who is ranked 18th in the world and number one in Great Britain, goes into the Olympic Games in the form of his life having smashed his own Scottish record earlier this year with a throw of 67.73m.

The former Ryde School student, who trains regularly at the Fairway athletics track in Sandown, saw his epic throw meet the Olympic qualification standard.

It was a life-changing moment, which has propelled Nick onto a new level, after all the many sacrifices made over the years to fulfil this dream.

But it was not plain sailing for Nick, who had to go through some early Olympic qualifying season ups and downs.

During the start of the school year, Nick went back to Ryde School, coaching students.

Nick said: "It was a great opportunity to coach young athletes in a multi-discipline sports programme — and it allowed me to train full time around the job, with the school allowing me time to compete around the globe, with a salary which helped fund the trips abroad."

After Christmas, Nick's initial training and competition period in Australia and New Zealand, to gain world qualification points for a new ranking system, was hindered for a cooking-related burn, then food poisoning, which held back his progress.

But Nick's competitions Down Under started very well, with throws of over 63m — his best-ever opening to a season, which he found encouraging.

In March, Nick was selected to represent Great Britain at the European Winter Throws in Portugal, putting in a respectable in a top quality field, then his training was supplemented by given daytime access to the athletics facility at The Bay School, Sandown, to train.

But Nick stepped up when he travelled to the United States — improving his PB to a new Scottish national record and second all-time ever for Britain, with throws that enabled him to reach automatic standard qualification.

Nick, born in Scotland, but who grew up on the Isle of Wight, Nick is a proud Islander who won gold representing his home county at the Island Games in Guernsey last year. 

"It goes to show all the preparation in the world never goes straight forward — the lows of my Australian camp, then replaced by the highs of my American trip," said Nick.

"The distances I threw were beyond my expectations, which gave me extra motivation to continue the standard in competition into a summer season."

In May and last month (June), Nick continued his good form — achieving silver at the British Championships.

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