A VISUALLY impaired Surbiton runner hopes the Olympics will inspire more blind young people to share his 2020 Paralympics dream.

Souleyman Bah, 17, has retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative condition which has left him with a very limited degree of sight.

But the talented teen can run the 100m in 11.8 seconds and is the world record holder for category T13 athletes in his age group.

Mr Bah is one of 60 athletes who has won a Backing The Best award and will receive up to £5,000 per year to help cover expensive training costs until the 2020 Paralympics.

His trainers did not think his body had developed enough for this year’s games in Rio but are confident he will be a star in four years’ time.

He said: “My story shows that sight loss shouldn’t get in the way of pursuing competitive sport. I’d definitely encourage young vision impaired people to try out clubs and activities, no matter how sporty they are.

“I’ve trained really hard for the last few years and it’s fantastic to think that I might have more opportunities to compete at an international level.”

Souleyman attended a range of free sports activities as part of the Royal London Society for Blind People's Sport Without Limits sessions that run in London venues like the Velodrome and Aquatics Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Mr Souleyman said: "I’d definitely encourage young vision impaired people to try out SWL’s clubs and activities. It’s a great way to make friends and have fun."