A TALENTED teenage weightlifter needs the public’s support to help him lift his ambitions of representing Great Britain across the globe.

Jacob Finnigan, from Colchester, has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Youth World Weightlifting Championships in Las Vegas next month.

However, with an expensive trans-Atlantic flight to pay for at short notice, his family have launched a fundraising appeal to help cover the 16-year-old sporting prodigy’s travel costs.

Mum Jodie said: “We have not been given a lot of time to get funds together so we are asking for contributions to help with his plane travel.

“Any extra money we raised will be a buffer for any additional costs.

“He will also have costs for other competitions in the future.

“It is quite an expensive sport and so all donations help.”

Jacob, a former student of Philip Morant School in Colchester, will represent Great Britain in the under 73kg weight class, which is open to anyone under the age of 17.

The prestigious competition, which is the biggest in the youth version of the sport, will see Jacob test himself against the best in the world - something he hopes he will get to do a lot more in the future.

Mrs Finnigan said: “He is very excited. It is a bit surreal at the moment.

“His coach has spoken to him and explained this will not be like the other competitions, it will be a big deal. He doesn’t want him to be overawed.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

“There will be other kids lifting from countries like China and Russia and he does not know quite what he will be up against.

“Ultimately his goal is to compete in the Commonwealth Games for England.

“As long as he keeps going and stays injury free there is no reason he could not do that.”

His growing list of achievements is all the more impressive as Jacob, who is an apprenticeship at Essex Weightlifting Club, is profoundly deaf and wears cochlear implants.

Mrs Finnigan acknowledges her son has never let his hearing loss get in his way.

She added: “After the competition, he will be able to say he has competed at an international competition, which is a great thing for his CV.

“He is very excited about the fact he will get to wear the GB colours when lifting.”

The family are hoping to raise £800. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/getjjtovegas.