MOUNT Cotton taekwondo star Liam Sweeney is looking for sponsors as he attempts to qualify for the World Junior Championships in Bulgaria later this year.
The 16-year-old, who has five national titles and hails from a proud taekwondo family, is looking for locals to get behind him as he goes through a rigorous selection process for the Australian team over the next few months.
Sweeney and his family have set up a GoFundMe page where people can donate to help the prodigy raise the estimated $25,000 he needs to compete in a series of international events and training camps leading up to the world championships.
Mother Sadhbh Sweeney said his ultimate goal was to represent Australia at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
"He competed in the French open and Israel open just before Christmas and won medals at both," she said.
"The world championships mean everything to him. All the comps he did last year were for this.
"He trains before and after school and all day on the weekends to prepare."
Sweeney's prospects for the world championships are good, having recently been invited to attend a training camp with the Australian Olympic team.
His mother said the fact he was the only junior athlete in Australia selected to attend the camp was a sign of his ability and potential.
Sweeney has also been shortlisted as an emerging athlete, meaning he is already on the Australian selectors' radar.
People wishing to make a donation can visit gofundme.com/f/world-junior-championships-2020.
Sweeney is also a member of the Australian Sports Foundation, allowing businesses to make tax deductible donations to help him achieve his dream.
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