CHIPPENHAM para-cyclist Lauren Booth admits her desire to get to the Paralympics burns as bright as ever after sharing the podium with one of her idols.

Despite being just 14, Booth is already a world record-breaker and multiple national champion.

She recently rubbed shoulders with the country’s very best at the British Cycling National Championships in Manchester where the Abbeyfield School pupil claimed silver in the C1-5 500m time trial and won bronze in the C1-5 mixed flying 200m time trial, smashing her national record in the process with a new time of 13.762 seconds.

In the latter, Booth was going up against fellow C4 rider and two-time Paralympic cycling champion Jody Cundy while double Paralympic silver medallist Jon-Allan Butterworth was also in action.

Cundy who took the title in a new C4 British record of 10.531 ahead of Butterworth and Booth, is building towards the Manchester Paracycling Track International next month.

“It was good to break the record but also going on the podium with Jody Cundy was something I will remember,'' she said..

“Before we competed, he just said to try and do my best which I did, and then to get third behind him was really special.

“I’ve got a competition coming up in Manchester in November, so that is my next aim.

“It would mean a lot to win there as it means I’m going faster all the time.”

For Booth, the ultimate aim would be to follow the example of Cundy and Butterworth and represent Great Britain at a Paralympic Games.

And with her realistic target being Tokyo 2020, the rising star insists she will be doing all she can to achieve her aim.

“All my friends and family are really proud of how I’m doing,” she added.

“The long term aim is to get to the Paralympic Games although I’m a bit young for Rio so Tokyo is my aim.

“I just keep trying to do my best and keep training hard.”

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