A BOY from Christchurch has become a world champion biathlete after taking part in an event in Florida.

Finn Pardy, 12, who is a member of Poole Athletic Club, won gold in the Under-13 Biathle when he took part in at the Biathle and Triathle World Championships held in America.

The event saw the school boy run 400-metres, swim 50-metres and then run another 400-metres to take the top title and fly the flag for Team GB.

His proud mum, Nikki, said that her son is a 600-metre runner for the county, takes part in cross country running and is also member of Swim Bournemouth, with support from dad, Andrew, and sisters, Jodi, 26, and Romy, 21.

She added: "This year he did the South West Biathle Championship in April, which he won and then went to the regional finals at Salford Quays, which he won, and then he was offered the chance to join Team GB for the event in Florida.

"He competed with a girl from Team GB in the mixed pairs for the Under-13 Biathle Relay, where they won bronze, and then, on the last day, he competed in his individual race, which he won.

"When he crossed the line, he had his head in his hands because he couldn't believe that he was first.

"We are tremendously proud of him. He is so unassuming and wouldn't tell anybody about his achievements unless they asked."

Nikki said that her son, Finn, is going to start taking part in triathlons, which feature running, swimming and cycling, after purchasing his first road bike. "I think that he wouldn't mind being the next Alistair Brownlee."

According to Pentathlon GB, a biathle is a continuous run-swim-run competition open to competitors of all ages from seven to seventy.

The competition consists of a pack start followed by a run, a swim before a final run to the finish line.

A series of biathle competitions run each year in Great Britain, in addition to an international Biathle World Tour series of events run together with a European and World Championships with events generally open to all age groups.