HIGH ACHIEVER: Lleyton Lloyd is ready to compete at the Special Olympics Junior National Games.
HIGH ACHIEVER: Lleyton Lloyd is ready to compete at the Special Olympics Junior National Games.
SWIMMING, shot put, sprinting, cross country, relay, long jump and soccer are among the long list of sports talented youngster Lleyton Lloyd has tried his hand at.
Lleyton began his sporting career in the pool at six-months-old, and now - at the age of 12 - is preparing for his biggest sporting challenge so far.
In December, he will compete at the Special Olympics Junior National Games, a competition for athletes under 16 years old who have an intellectual disability.
He is one of 30 Hunter children selected to represent the state in the competition, which will be held in Newcastle.
Hailing from the quiet town of Hilldale, Lleyton is a member of the Y-Valley Aquatic Club and the Macquarie Hunter Athletics Club.
He also plays for the Gresford Vacy Football Club under-13s and rides horses at the Riding for the Disabled Lower Hunter and Raymond Terrace Centre.
In the games - held from December 6 to 10 - Lleyton will compete in all track and field events and soccer.
"The best thing about the games is meeting new people," he said.
"It isn't about winning but instead for me it is about improving on my personal bests."
Earlier this year at the Special Olympics state athletics competition, he competed in the men's four kilogram shot put division, and was shocked when his final attempt produced a massive 3.40 metre throw, which placed him second.
Lleyton's mother Belinda said her son's love of sport had been an expensive and time-consuming hobby, but she wouldn't have it any other way.
"If it is what Lleyton wants to do then I will not stop him," she said.
