A TALENTED young weightlifter has won £500 after being declared Erith’s most improved young sportsperson.

But the award to Jack Oliver, 17, had to be delayed because he was one of a number of young British 2012 Olympic hopefuls picked to travel to Beijing to gain some experience of the Olympics Games.

Jack, of Townley Road, Bexleyheath, was chosen from nine other finalists by Erith’s Riverside shopping centre, after he was nominated by his seven-year-old niece, Elodie.

He trains at the Europa Gym Club in Fraser Road, Erith, and is the current British champion for his weight.

The presentation of the cash and a certificate was made by Bexley’s mayor, Councillor Nick O’Hare, at the gym.

A pupil at Eltham College, Jack took up weightlifting three years ago, after trying a variety of different sports.

His mother Dana, 49, said: “He went to Europa to do trampolining, then he swapped to gymnastics and while he was doing weight training for that, the coach suggested he try weightlifting.”

He has just flown to India to compete in the junior Commonwealth Games.