TORFAEN duo Megan Allison and Owen Richards will swim for Wales at the 2017 School Games National Finals.

The School Games is an integrated multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes and takes place at Loughborough University from August 31 to September 3.

Allison, 15, is a student at Rougemont School in Newport and a member of the City of Newport Swimming Club.

Richards, 16, attends Abersychan Comprehensive School and trains with Torfaen Dolphins.

They already have an impressive record of success – Allison was the fastest female in the UK for the 200m butterfly and Richards broke the Welsh short course 200m butterfly record.

Around 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the School Games, seven of which include disability disciplines.

The four-day event is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

The Torfaen pair will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the School Games before going on to senior international success.

Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and GB sprinter Adam Gemili.

The School Games are the springboard for future athletes, with 56 of the 382 athletes representing Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio having competed at the School Games.

At the event, Allison and Richards will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level, living in a dedicated athletes’ village on the university campus, taking part in an opening ceremony and performing in front of huge crowds.

“I competed in the School Games last year and to be part of a Wales team was amazing,” said Allison.

Richards added: “The London 2012 Olympics were inspiring, seeing athletes so focused and determined was incredible to witness.”

Meanwhile, Ali Oliver, CEO of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “The School Games National Finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Megan and Owen.

“Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”

Tickets for the event are available at ticketsource.co.uk/2017schoolgames