An Orpington gymnast has somersaulted his way to representing Team GB at the world tumbling championships in Florida next month.

Tiny tumbler Freddie Lomax, aged 12, has beaten off competition from hundreds to compete for Great Britain at the tournament in Daytona Beach.

The World Age Group competition will showcase the best child athletes from 39 countries in tumbling and trampoline events from November 13 to November 16.

The Darrick Wood School pupil has been practising gymnastics since he was just seven years old.

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His mum Sam Lomax, who runs her own gymnastics business, said she has spent hours after school and at weekends taking him to his training.

The 42-year-old said: “We are just amazingly proud. He really is an inspiration to so many children.

“He’s in the top four in the country for his age group.”

Freddie, who also represents Great Britain in the national tumbling squad, spends 14 hours training at Bromley Valley Gymnastics Club in St Paul’s Cray every week.

Since the club opened in 1991, he is their youngest gymnast to qualify for the world finals.

In his spare time, Freddie accompanies his mum to primary schools, performs for other children and hosts question and answer sessions about gymnastics.

Freddie’s family are now looking for a sponsor to help turn his hobby into his future.

They set up a donations page yesterday (October 16) to try to raise £2,000 to help cover the cost of his US trip. The page has raised £1,180 in less than 24 hours.

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Mrs Lomax said she hoped to see an improvement in funding for young sports stars from Bromley competing at national level.

Video by Grace Lomax.

“You just can’t believe that these children compete to such high levels but then there is little funding for them to take it further,” she said.

To find out more about Freddie’s journey to Florida visit http://www.gofundme.com/ftcsho