FUTURE Paralympics hopeful Aaron Maddox struck gold at the London Youth Games.
The Hayes swimmer, representing the London Borough of Hillingdon, topped the leader board in the male 50m freestyle with a time of 38.33.
Teenager Maddox joined his Hillingdon team-mates from Meadow High School to finish fourth and eighth in the relay events to cap off a fine day’s work at Beckenham Spa.
This follows his recent success at the Turtles swimming club’s in-house competition, where he came first in the diving and relay competitions.
Maddox was diagnosed with the bone cancer osteosarcoma in his right upper arm in March 2011.
A course of treatment at University College London Hospital finished in December 2011, and the brave youngster has continued to do well.
Now swimming at an able-bodied club four times a week, he was approached to join the London Disability Swimming Club that meets once a month in Mile End.
His right arm does not elevate or extend owing to his having a prosthesis fitted, which means he can only swim using one arm.
As he sets his sights on Rio in 2016, British Swimming this week approved Maddox in the S8 category for all strokes and SB9 for breaststroke as he prepares for Paralympic glory.
Before then, Maddox will be taking part in a four-day yachting trip, setting sail from Cowes on the Isle of Wight and exploring the Solent for the second year running.
The trip is being organised by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, with the aim of rebuilding the confidence of young people who are returning to full health after serious illness.
Maddox will also take part in Great London Swim in Victoria Dock to raise money for CLIC Sargent on Saturday, August 31.
