PARA-ATHLETE Andy Lewis said he has learned some ‘valuable lessons’ after taking part in the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics test event in Brazil.

Lewis, from Lydney, flew out to Rio de Janeiro late last month to try out the facilities on offer and came third in his triathlon, finishing just 13 seconds behind winner Mark Barr.

Although unlike the Olympic team, Lewis’ race was not a qualifying event – but said it felt ‘very real’ regardless.

“Boarding an aircraft to the Paralympic venue with only thirteen months to go before the big event and more realistically possibly only ten months before we find out if we have made the cut, made it an very important event,” he said.

“I sat amongst the team, which was made up of previous world champions & people that have been doing this for a lot longer than my 14 months.”

Lewis described the surreal experience, saying it ‘never seems real’ that announcers refer to him as representing his country.

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