Fourteen-year-old Waryk Holmes has drawn on great Central West athlete to kick-start his own career.
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Holmes, born with a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia, has taken up wheelchair racing, being inspired by iconic Paralympian and Carcoar native Kurt Fearnley.
And on May 17, Holmes completed in his first official race - the Sydney Half Marathon Wheelchair Sprint.
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He finished in fifth place overall and fourth in the boys and it's an even more incredible achievement, considering how quickly he's risen through the ranks in the sport according to his mother Tanya Holmes.
"He went to Wheelies Camp, through Wheelchair Sports NSW, in December. It was a three-day trial and they competed in a heap of sports and Kurt Fearnley was there," she explained.
"Waryk has known him since he was a kid. Kurt chucked him in a chair and the rest is history. Kurt said he's a natural.
"He only started training in March."
The chair Holmes uses is loaned out from Wheelchair Sports NSW, for a 12 month period.
Greg Bell, from Belly's Bikes, does the maintenance.
I want to get into the Paraylmpics. That's the plan.
- Waryk Holmes
Since picking up wheelchair racing, Holmes' mother noted how he's changed.
"He's a completely different kid and his confidence has grown," he said.
"Waryk has looked up to Kurt and he's given him so much support, sending him messages of support and good luck.
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Holmes, who is nicknamed "Roosters" for his loving of breeding chickens, is now training for the City2Surf.
He travels to Sydney once a fortnight for training on a Saturday morning, where he is trained by Paralympian gold medalist Louise Sauvage.
"It's very fun but maybe not the early starts, but it's great," Holmes said.
"I want to get into the Paralympics. That's the plan. Not the dream, but the plan."