A TALENTED teenage swimmer has landed a prestigious scholarship to train and study in the United States.

Seventeen-year-old Daniel Woods, from Abersychan, will fly out to America in August to start a degree at Eastern Carolina University, after being awarded an academic and sports scholarship.

His five-year degree will see him improve his swimming by training six days a week, as well as studying for an engineering major.

Daniel, who has just finished his A-levels at St Albans High School in Pontypool, first started swimming when he was just four years old at Pontypool Dolphins Swimming Club.

He went on to join the Swim Wales Regional Skills squad in 2004, and has swum for the Swim Wales East regional development squad, and the Torfaen County Swimming Elite.

He qualified for the British Age Group Championships in 2007 and 2008, and has competed in the National Youth Championships, as well as representing the Welsh Schools in 2008 and 2009, and making it into the current Welsh Schools National Swimming squad.

The butterfly swimmer will begin his American studies in the autumn, where his £30,000 scholarship will cover his tuition fees, accommodation, and food.

Daniel said: “I’m very nervous, going out there on my own. But if I train well, I would like to come back and compete for Great Britain in the Olympics or Wales in the Commonwealth Games.”