Ryan Richards who is just 17 is a talented young basketball star and has won funding in a bid to win gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Ryan who is from Sittingbourne, is one of only 250 athletes nationwide to receive up to £1,000 in funding through the ‘Local Heroes’ programme which is funded by Lloyds TSB and Sports Aid.

Rayn has represented England at the under-16 and under-18 level and plays for Gran Canaria in Spain. Ryan said that the support will help him pursue his dream of competing at the London games. Ryan said that “I feel really good about the award, I’ve worked hard towards it. It would be my dream to win a gold medal with England at the Olympics in 2012.”

Ryan first started out in the sport after he was first introduced to it by his older brother when the family were living in Ramsgate. They both used to play in a local court which had a single hoop, before Ryan who attended the Westlands School in Sittingbourne chose to pursue his passion further by signing for the Kent Crusaders aged just 13. Two years later after he represented the South East and England at junior level he was offered a scholarship and relocated to the Canary Islands. Ryan said that “The atmosphere is a lot better, basketball’s a bigger sport over there and I’ve visited a lot of other teams. I don’t miss home too much as I prefer my own space, although I house share with some other players.”

Ryan says his ambition is to ultimately play in the American NBA, home of the world’s elite basketball players.

source