Plymouth College pupil, Douglas Samuels, 15, has been selected for the U19 Great Britain Octopush team. As well as the World Alternative Games in Newport in August this year, the talented underwater hockey player will compete at the World Age Group Championships in Spain in 2015.
Douglas has been playing Octopush since he was 7 years old when his mum, a scuba diver, took him along to a session to see if he would like it. He did and can now hold his breath under water for up to 3 minutes! During the game players wear mask, snorkel and flippers, manoeuvring a puck across the swimming pool floor into goals.
The Plymouth Underwater Hockey Club member also plays for the U16 Team South West who won the Pancake Tournament in Holland recently without conceding a goal. Douglas made the GB team after being spotted by national selectors and subsequently attending trials last year.
“It is really exciting to make the Great Britain team,” said Douglas. “Plymouth is one of the top teams in the country and I am really proud to be representing both the city and Great Britain in these international competitions.”