OLYMPIC hopeful Liam Macdevitt is appealing to people to help him on his way to Rio.

The 19-year-old 400m runner has dedicated his life to football and athletics.

But a spell playing professional football has made the former Little Heath pupil realise his heart and passion lies on the track.

Liam, of Craig Avenue, Tilehurst, has returned to the world of athletics and is making a determined bid to get to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and he is trying to raise sponsorship of almost £5,000 to start him on his journey.

The Reading AC runner said: “I’ve been away playing football and was training every day so was fit, so when I went back out on the track I was about half a second down on my previous best.” The athlete is now being coached by bronze Commonwealth Games decathlon medalist Martin Brockman and Olympic World Indoor Championships track coach Craig Winrow.

With such expert tuition, he believes he has a chance to run a personal best time of 49.2 to make the GB team that will give him a chance to compete at the European Championships next year. He would then have to slice off another second to make the GB team for Rio.​ He added: “My times were when I was training once a week, now I’m training every day to get the half a second, or a stride, quicker.” With a student loan already swallowed up with his athletics expenses and studying an English and history degree, he said of the money: “Even athletes like Jessica Ennis don’t get much money from Sport England, it all comes from sponsorship, so it’s really hard to start out.” He said of sponsoring him: “It’s for people who are interested and want to get closer to someone who wants to get to the Olympics and say 'I helped him along the way’.” The money would help with physio fees, travel and kit so Liam can focus on his studies and his future on the track.

He said: “Excuse the cliche, but to make Rio would be more than a dream.

“As a kid growing up, the Olympics was always the pinnacle for any sportsman, and London saw a new generation be inspired by Olympians, myself included.

“To make the Rio Olympics makes me smile just thinking about it.

“It would make all the cold mornings and nights in worth it.”