A 22-year-old athlete from Kesgrave will compete for gold at the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games in Birmingham.
Hamish Crawford, who has cerebral palsy and uses a walker for his running events, will represent Suffolk in shotput, the 50m sprint, and the 100m relay.
The games are taking place from August 26 to 30 at Alexander Stadium, which previously hosted the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Mr Crawford said: "I’m excited and a little bit nervous, obviously, because that’s natural.
"I’m really energized and looking forward to it."
He was first inspired to pursue athletics after watching his heroes David Weir and Hannah Crockroft compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Mr Crawford said: "I always go back to that moment and think if they can do it, I can do it."
He trains with the Orwell Panthers, an inclusive athletics club in Ipswich, and has been involved in the sport for 11 years despite facing difficult setbacks.
Mr Crawford said: "Over the years, I’ve had operations on my legs to help with my cerebral palsy.
"The operations knocked my confidence, and I was saying to my coaches I really want to get back in to running, and they said it was going to take time.
"But I managed to do it."
He previously competed at the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games 2017 in Sheffield and now hopes to "do my best" on a national stage.
Mr Crawford said: "It’s exciting because you don’t really get the opportunity to do it.
"This is a national stadium where you’ve got top athletes and it’s like wow; I’m going to be there from Suffolk."
In September, he will begin the second year of his Level 3 Personal Trainer course at One Sixth Form College.
Josh Curry, a supported learning teacher at the college, said: "We wish Hamish the very best of luck."
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