Wiltshire fencer Cador Beautyman selected for European competition

Cador Beautyman is ranked ninth in the world in the Under-20s age group

A young fencer has been selected as part of the Great Britain team for a European competition.

Cador Beautyman, 18, who trains at Bath University, is ranked ninth in the world in the Under-20 age group.

He has been selected to compete in individual and team events in the European Youth Fencing Championships in Naples, Italy, from 22-25 February.

"I've had a fantastic year. It feels a bit surreal to be honest, but I'm enjoying it," Mr Beautyman said.

The teenager, from Wroughton, started fencing at the age of eight in Swindon.

He began by using a foil, one of three swords used in the sport, but after a year progressed to an epee, the largest and heaviest sword.

"Films like Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars were a big inspiration for me," said Mr Beautyman.

After competing at a local level, followed by the domestic circuit, he started attending international events as a cadet and rose to 11th in the Under-17 European rankings.

The teenager will represent Great Britain at the European Youth Fencing Championships in Italy

His ultimate dream is to win a medal at the Olympics, but for now he is just trying to enjoy the sport and improve on his technique.

"Definitely patience and endurance as a competition is a long, long day. Imagine holding a squat for an entire day, constantly on your feet, changing direction. It's very tiring.

"I've had trouble with my ankle in the past. Generally elbows and knees are the first to go," he told BBC Radio Wiltshire.

Mr Beautyman has just returned from Basel, Switzerland, where he competed in the Junior World Cup, finishing 22nd out of 258 competitors on his 18th birthday.

Mr Beautyman competed against the current Olympic champion, Romain Cannone (right), in a tournament in France

His mother, Sian Beautyman, said it is an expensive sport at international level.

She added: "We are desperately looking for a sponsor for Cador to ease the burden a little bit. There is no money in British fencing in the way you might imagine for other sports.

"It's a vicious cycle because if a sport does well at the Olympics, for example, then the government will push more money in that direction, but you need to get your athletes to that level of regularly achieving in the first place."