TAVISTOCK's world record-breaking marathon man is this week celebrating, after being selected for a special Olympic talent spotting programme.

Adam Holland, who last year became the youngest man in the world to run 100 marathons, has been asked to attend the Power2Podium campaign's Phase 1 Olympic Talent Assessment event in Cardiff next month.

Natalie Dunman, lead talent scientist with the UK Talent Team, said: 'The aim of Power2Podium is to identify individuals who possess outstanding raw talent, and with elite coaching and specialist support, could be capable of reaching the top of the podium at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, or at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.'

The Power2Podium-targeted sports include cycling, athletics, rugby sevens, weightlifting, canoeing, bobsleigh and bob skeleton.

Assessors at the event in Cardiff, on October 8, will pick out sportsmen and women they believe have the potential to develop into champions — and Adam said he was overjoyed when the letter inviting him to attend arrived.

'I applied last year, and had to list all the sports I do, like athletics, hockey, badminton etc,' said Adam, 24.

'To be honest I'd completely forgotten about it, and I was having such a bad day that day, I'd only had a couple of hours sleep, I'd fallen off my bike, I got back from work soaking wet, but when I opened the letter, I felt like crying, I was so happy.'

Adam said to be given the opportunity of attending such an event was 'fantastic'.

'Athletics is always something I've done well at, but I would be happy to do any sport for my country.

'I've done a range of sports over the years but it will be nice to see what they say about my strengths and weaknesses, and where I can go from here,' said Adam.

If the selectors are looking for someone with a passion for running, Adam will certainly fit the bill — he competes in athletics events all over the country and having no car, frequently cycles to venues.

'Last weekend I cycled up to Princetown to do the Dartmoor Dash, which is a five mile race. I did a ten-minute warm up, ran the course to see what it was like in about 42 minutes, then I had about 15 minutes to spare before the race, which I did in 31:40 and won it, then cycled home — it was a nice day!' said Adam, who this week celebrated another sporting milestone.

He achieved a new personal best in a 26-mile road race at the Robin Hood Marathon in Nottingham at the weekend.

He came in second out of 1,405 finishers in two hours, 41 minutes and 25 seconds.

Just under three minutes behind the winner Carl Allwood, Adam was making time on the leader and made it up from sixth place at the halfway mark.

He said: 'This was the third Robin Hood marathon I have done.

'Last year I was eighth but it was not so much about getting a better placing, than beating my personal best. I just wanted to do it under 2.45.'

Adam was cheered on by an army of family and friends and won £150 and a glass trophy.

This weekend he is taking part in a Team Ironman competition at Henley on Thames.

The young athlete is sponsored by Val's Round a Pound shop in Tavistock and Nigel Eadie of The Original Pasty House, and coached by Dave Chanter.

Dave said: 'This is a great opportunity for Adam and a reward for the work he has put in over the past six months.

'His recent personal best was good, as we have been working towards improving his speed over shorter races, as part of a long-term plan.'

Dave also praised Adam's commitment to training, week in, week out.

Nigel said:?'Power2Podium is probably the biggest athletic opportunity of Adam's career to date and for him to be chosen from the tens of thousands who applied is fantastic.'