URCHFONT’S Polly Maton admits she will never tire of donning the Team GB vest after being named in Great Britain’s 52-strong team for the World Para European Athletics Championships in Berlin.

Maton will compete in the T47 long jump, T47 100m and the 4x100m mixed relay at next month’s championships.

The teenager pinpointed sacrifice, support and hard work as the key reasoning behind her selection, adding she’s delighted that British Athletics have put their faith in her ability once more.

She said: “I always feel so privileged to be selected for any team, so it was a great honour to receive the call.

“There’s a lot of sacrifice and I’ve had to miss things with family and friends, that’s the main thing.

“Then I have to juggle the limited time I do have to work towards my A-Levels and training too.

“My friends have been really supportive. It’s nice to have those people share my journey with me as I progress.”

The Paralympian has been boosted by National Lottery funding this year to help her with recovery and coaching with Team Bath.

Her coach, Colin Baross, helped guide Maton to fifth place in the T47 100m at the World Championships last year.

With a podium spot in her sights across all disciplines, Maton is gearing up for a busy schedule in Germany.

“I quite like pressure, it’s good to feel nervous before a competition otherwise I don’t see much point in doing it,” said Maton, who clinched a silver medal in the T47 long jump at the World Para Athletics Championships in London last summer.

“I enjoy the big events. Especially when I put on the GB vest, competing for your country is always special.

“It should make you feel nervous and under pressure.”

Her preparations for the European Championships continue this weekend at the Muller Anniversary Games at the London Stadium.

Maton, who also took part in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, is looking to use the event as a marker to gauge where her progress is both on and off the track.

She added: “Because I’ve had to take a month out from training to focus on my A-Levels I’m starting to come back into competition.

“This weekend will be a good marker for me and allow me to understand what I have to do going forward.

“I’ll do a few more local competitions before the Europeans.”