By Tim Hart

Dafydd Bury has overcome a series of obstacles to reach the Welsh side

Teignmouth's Welsh Under-18 hockey forward Dafydd Bury is making huge strides in his aspirations to play at an Olympic Games.

The 16-year-old is already a key figure in the Welsh youth set up having impressed in both the Four Nations and the UK School Games this year.

He is now hoping to be selected for the Wales U21 squad in the next 12 months.

From there the South Devon Young Sportsman of the Year aims to get picked for Great Britain.

"I'm hoping to put in good performances and to go on to further things with Wales," said Bury. "The long term aim is to be selected for Team GB.

"But Team GB does not start until U20's and I will have to impress in the Great Britain Super League with the Welsh U21s before being considered for selection," the Devon U17 captain added.

The drive and determination of Bury is even more remarkable when you consider how much family bereavement he has suffered.

Bury lost his mother and two grandfathers to different types of cancer over a six month period.

But through this adversity he has shown great maturity to succeed, recognising that without his family he would not have done as well as he has.

"Without my family I wouldn't have been able to achieve what I have," he said. "And without my Dad none of this would have been possible."