Boxer Lawrence Osueke is preparing to take a big step on the road towards Rio 2016 by competing for Great Britain at the European Championships.
The Newcastle youngster has been named in a 13-man squad for the championships, which take place in Minsk from June 1.
Osueke joins Olympians Andrew Selby and Josh Taylor in the squad for what is the first major tournament since London 2012.
Rye Hill boxer Osueke, who competed for the British Lionhearts during the 2012-13 World Series of Boxing season, is in good form going into the championships after winning silver medals at the Bocskai in Hungary and last month at the Feliks Stamm tournament in Warsaw.
He will represent Britain at 81kgs and Rob McCracken, GB Boxing’s performance director, believes it could prove to be a big step towards the next Olympics for Osueke.
“Tournaments at this stage in the Olympic cycle are always tough and this will be a big challenge as the European Championships are traditionally one of the most demanding assignments in the boxing calendar,” said McCracken.
“For a lot of this group it will be their first appearance at a major tournament so it is an opportunity for these boxers to test themselves at the highest level and demonstrate that they have the qualities to become one of the mainstays of the GB squad as we build towards Rio 2016.”