The Chelsea trialist leading GB's Olympic hopes

A 3rd quality astatine an Olympic Games and nan opportunity to skipper Great Britain astatine Paris 2024 offers much than a small consolation for David Ames missing retired connected a imaginable profession arsenic a master footballer pinch Chelsea.

Born successful South Africa but brought up successful Northern Ireland, Ames is preparing to skipper GB this summertime aft antecedently being portion of nan GB squad successful Rio successful 2016 and subsequently nan broadside that vanished 5th astatine nan Tokyo Olympics.

It could each person been truthful different for nan 35-year-old, however, aft he went connected tests pinch Chelsea and Preston North End.

"I was a very keen footballer, and swimmer, erstwhile I was increasing up. I swam nationally, played a batch of football, and that’s beautiful overmuch each I wanted to do from a very young age," recalls Ames.

“I had a number of tests and scholarships astatine Chelsea and past Preston North End, but unluckily didn’t rather make it.

"They said I was excessively small, lacked pace, lacked immoderate agility."

Ames recovered from that early sporting setback to spell connected to bask a fulfilling nine and world career, initially representing Ireland and past switching his allegiance to GB.

"I decided that lucky was nan way I wanted to spell down, based connected a number of mates from my aged nine and schoolhouse arsenic well, who pushed maine that way.

"Thankfully it has paved nan measurement for my life to beryllium beautiful overmuch non-stop lucky for nan past 17 aliases 18 years. I’m very thankful for those guys for putting maine successful this position. I’m fortunate capable to beryllium doing what I’m doing.

"It gave maine a caller career, a caller way to spell down, and thankfully this 1 has worked out."

Having besides helped England to a fourth-placed decorativeness astatine nan 2018 World Cup, Ames will bask different profession item successful France wherever GB are badge contenders.

He is speedy to salary tribute to nan astonishing support he has received from his mother Carol.

"Mum has been location each measurement of nan way. She was a azygous genitor who raised 2 kids. It's beautiful emotional.

"In my early days driving maine to Dublin. Six successful nan greeting to beryllium location for nine, constantly, each weekend. There aren’t excessively galore countries she hasn’t ticked off. She has been to beautiful overmuch each event.

“The way that I’ve chosen has beautiful overmuch been from her and I effort to do nan champion I tin successful position of my lucky and my life truthful it looks nan champion for her and hopefully I proceed to do her proud.

"To beryllium capable to decorativeness arsenic a skipper of Great Britain astatine nan Olympic Games would beryllium a bully measurement for maine to finish, and for her.”