THE MOTHER of Wombwell born swimmer James Kirton will be travelling to Beijing next month, fourteen years after he told her he wanted to compete in the Olympics.
Elizabeth Kirton, of Spring Walk, will go with her husband Alan to support their 23-year-old son in the 200m breaststroke event.
Mrs Kirton, said: "I am so excited, it has been his dream for nearly fifteen years.
"When he was nine and all the other children wanted to be solicitors or doctors, he said he wanted to go to the Olympics.
"Now he is it is fantastic. All the family will be watching, spurring him on."
James, who went to Wombwell High School, first showed interest in the sport when the family went away for a holiday together.
Mrs Kirton, said: "We couldn't keep up with him, he wanted to be out and about, running all over the place and he enjoyed the water."
When James was five, she decided to take him for swimming lessons during the Easter holidays.
She said: "I took him to his lessons, with an instructor who also coached at Borough Barnsley swimming club, she noticed something in him and wanted him to join."
"After that he never looked back and went on to join the club in Sheffield."
Mrs Kirton said she has always supported her son and knows how hard he worked to fit in swimming and school.
She said: "It takes over when you get to a certain level, I used to drive him to Sheffield every morning at 4am and then drive him back to school in Wombwell."
James will fly out next Thursday with his parents and coach following on August 9.
