SPECIAL OLYMPICS EAST MIDLANDS

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 Judo star Barry Miller has booked his place at the Special Olympic National Games. The 14-year-old - who suffers from Asperger Syndrome and Developmental Coordination Disorder - will compete at the prestigious event in Leicester from July 25-31.In contests, competitors battle against opponents with similar disability levels and weight categories.Barry is the only Lincolnshire competitor to make the judo squad. He is currently a yellow belt, but hopes to be graded again before the Special Olympics get underway.Barry said: "I am very excited, it is the biggest competition I have ever been to."I am just pleased to be there but it would be nice to come away with a medal."I am on track. Training has been going well and I have been learning some new throws. It can take a week or two to learn a throw, but a lot longer to master it.

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"I think before the competition starts, I will be very nervous. But there will also be anticipation.The more competitions I take part in the more confident I get. Confidence is important, as you are more likely to make mistakes when you are worrying."Although he is focussed on his big date in the summer, Barry's soaring ambitions stretch way beyond the immediate future.Admirably, he aims to push himself as far as possible in the sport and eventually wants to be known as the best special needs judo player ever He also has a burning desire to one day compete at the Paralympics - if judo is one day included in the showpiece Games.Barry, a pupil at the Oasis Academy, Wintringham, has been competing for four years and is a member of Grimsby Judo Club, where his head coach is Terry Alltoft.He was first introduced to judo to help with the balance and muscle tone problems associated with his condition, and has since gone from strength to strength. Mr Alltoft coaches Barry