Penarth discus ace Brett Morse secures London 2012 Olympics Team GB spot! (From Penarth Times)

Penarth discus ace Brett Morse secures London 2012 Olympics Team GB spot!

8:30am Thursday 5th July 2012 in Sport By Robert James Owen

PENARTH discus ace Brett Morse faced an agonising wait to find out his Olympic selection fate - but was 'massively relieved' on Tuesday, when it was announced that he had secured one of three Team GB discus places in London.

The 23-year-old will join a record number of Welsh athletes selected for Team GB at the games.

Despite a strong showing last year - in which he twice threw the A standard for qualification and appeared in the World Championship final - Morse had been left sweating over his selection following a tough start to the season.

A strong showing at the Aviva Trials in Birmingham on June 24 marked an improvement, and he revived his hopes further with a season’s best 64.35 throw on Saturday (June 30) at a British Athletics meeting in London.

But failure to qualify for the final of the European Championships in Helsinki on Friday (June 29), and an A standard effort from British rival Abdul Bahari to win the competition in London on the weekend left things in the balance.

However, his selection was confirmed on Tuesday (July 3), along with Buhari, 30. The pair join Lawrence Okoye, 20, who had already been selected for London.

Former Stanwell and St Cyres student Brett said: “There was massive relief when I got the call to say I was in.

“The start of the season didn’t go very well and pressure has been building since then really. But I threw well at the trials and on the weekend, and was able to prove my fitness thankfully.

“Now i’m just ready to be there and do something great," he added.

“I did well at the World Championships last year and want to do even better in London.”

Brett will appear at the Welsh Athletics International in Cardiff on July 18, and attend a pre-Olympic training camp in Loughborough as part of his preparations for the Games.

Mum Lisa said she was “extremely proud”.

“It’s been a difficult year for Brett, and he’s spent most of it out of the country, but his hard work and dedication has reaped its rewards,” she said.

“We are all very,very proud and happy for him and would like to thank all his followers for their support and encouragement.”

Brett added: “I would like to thank my friends and family who have been a huge help to me over the years - I wouldn't be involved with athletics if it wasn't for them.

“Also thanks to my sponsors Adidas, Somerset Web Solutions, Oakley eyewear and Sci-Mx Nutrition.

"I have also had a lot of help from the Vale of Glamorgan Council, allowing me to train at all their facilities for numerous years free of charge; Thompsons' Butchers; Luke Clothing; and my agent Jamie Baulch at Definitive Sports Management, who has been a huge help to me in 2012, fixing training camps for me in Sweden through the winter and before the UK Olympic Trials.

"It obviously paid off, as I have now gained a spot in the Olympic team!”