An ambassador for Gravesend’s Cyclopark has made it into the Great British team.

Para-athlete John Smith, from Meopham, was named by British Athletics as part of the team which will compete at the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup to be held at the Virgin Money London Marathon on April 24.

John will join his training partner and six-time Paralympic champion, David Weir in the fastest T53/T54 classification.

This is another success for John who only officially started racing last March.

Last month, he came first and broke the course record with a time of 1:35.56 in the 2016 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.

John said: “This is a very big step for me, being selected to represent Great Britain. My success in Dubai has showcased what I can do.

“I’m honoured and it is an amazing feeling to know that I will be competing with the world’s best in our capital city for my country.”

“I’m honoured and it is an amazing feeling to know that I will be competing with the world’s best in our capital city for my country.”

On Friday, John dropped into the Cyclopark where he first started training in 2014 and still goes whenever he can.

Cyclopark chief executive Mike Stevens was there to congratulate him.

Mike said: “This is fantastic news for John. Myself and everyone at the park are very excited by the news and see this triumph as another step closer to John achieving his personal goal to compete at the Rio 2016 Games.

“John’s is a real inspiration to everyone and athletes that have set themselves sporting goals.

“John is a great example of what you can achieve when you set your mind to it; we wish him every success.”

John was Cyclopark’s first ambassador, supporting the circuit to showcase local talented athletes who are looking to compete with the elites in their chosen discipline.

Cyclopark looks to support talented athletes to pursue their chosen sporting career and develop sport leadership skills.

John became inspired to pursue his Rio ambition after watching the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

John’s next event is the ZurichSeville Marathon on February 21 in his quest for a place to represent Paralympics GB at the Rio 2016 Games.