TWO Sussex athletes have been selected to compete in the national swimming 2017 School Games.

They are Georgia Howell from Walberton near Arundel, and Joel Thompson from Portslade.

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

Georgia, 14, is a member of Littlehampton Swimming Club while Joel, 16, attends Hove Park School.

Both already have an impressive record of success.

Joel has already represented GB while Georgia was a finalist at the British Para-Swimming International Meet in April for 100m Breaststroke and she also earned a silver medal at the School Games last year.

Georgia has Achondroplasia which is a form of short-limbed dwarfism

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.

Georgia and Joel 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, and Olympic champion Adam Peaty.

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

Georgia and Joel will live in a dedicated Athletes’ Village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in an Opening Ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds of spectators.

Ali Oliver, chief executive officer of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “The finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Georgia and Joel.”

Tickets are available by going to https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/2017schoolgames