CWMBRAN teenager Sophie Williams will chase high profile success at the upcoming Sainsbury’s 2015 School Games in Manchester.

The 16-year-old from Croesyceiliog School will compete in this prestigious multi-sport event for school-age athletes in September.

One of the 1,600 athletes taking part in this year’s Games, Williams will represent Wales in cycling.

In total 12 sports, seven of which include disability disciplines, will be contested at the four-day spectacular which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

Williams will be following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars including Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, world-record breaking swimmer Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprinter Adam Gemili.

They all competed at the School Games before going on to elite success with Team GB and ParalympicsGB.

At the event, which runs from September 3 to September 6, Williams will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level. She will live within the athletes’ village, attend the opening and closing ceremonies and perform in front of a crowd of thousands at world class sports facilities in Manchester.

She said: “I am very proud to be representing Wales again at the Sainsbury’s School Games. My aim for the Games is to podium in all my events and to help Wales be one of the top teams.”

Minister for sport Tracey Crouch said: “The Sainsbury’s School Games continue to go from strength to strength and I am pleased to see so many young athletes embracing this fantastic opportunity to showcase their talents.

“Grassroots sport is where it all starts. It’s where the coaches and sports teachers mould our future stars, inspiring generations to get involved and be the best that they can be.”

Sport England director of community sport Mike Diaper added: “This event is an amazing opportunity for our next generation of aspiring athletes to compete against one another in a fun environment while also experiencing what it’s like to be part of a major multi-sport event.”

Youth Sport Trust chief executive Ali Oliver said: “The 1,500 athletes attending the Sainsbury’s 2015 School Games in Manchester will discover what competing at a major multi-sport event is really like.

“Many sporting superstars have used the Games as a platform to elite success including the likes of Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Adam Gemili and Ellie Simmonds and we hope Sophie will be inspired to do the same.”