SIXTH-FORMER Thomas Henley has won gold as part of a victorious Team England at the Taekwondo Commonwealth Championships.

Year 13 Rossett School student Henley, 17, came out top in the junior category at the championships in Scotland, where England topped the medal table after the two-day competition.

In the final, Henley beat an Australian opponent who had come down a weight category and had a ten kilogramme advantage.

Following the win, he was also named as the best male fighting competitor at the whole event, out of hundreds of competitors from across the Commonwealth.

Henley, who trains with the Horizon Taekwondo Academy in Bradford, said: “It was nerve-wracking competing in front of the crowds at a big event like this, but I’m so pleased with the result.

“I was honoured to be chosen to compete for England, so to win gold was brilliant, and then being chosen as best male fighting competitor is the icing on the cake. I hope it will lead on to more competitions for Team England again in the future.”

Henley, who is studying biology, chemistry and PE at A-Level, has Asperger’s syndrome, and hopes his success will inspire others to aim as high as possible.

He added: “My drive to succeed comes from my desire to show people that having Asperger’s syndrome or autism does not have to be a barrier to sporting success. Despite the difficulties those conditions can bring, it is still possible to achieve your aims if you work hard.”