A YOUNG Cardigan chef is off to the WorldSkills Olympics in Russia later this year as part of Team UK.

Crwst’s Sam Everton, 20, from Cilgerran and who studied at Pembrokeshire College, has fought through a two-year challenge and a recent gruelling team selection event, competing against thousands in the UK to be chosen as number one in the cookery section.

The team of young professional from various sectors from engineering, hospitality and professional services to construction and digital and IT will fly to Kazan in Russia in August to compete in the competition known as the ‘Skills Olympics’.

They’ll battle it out with their counterparts from more than 60 countries in 56 different skills disciplines.

Looking forward to the trip, Sam said: “I am obviously over the moon and relishing the challenge in Russia.”

Neil Bentley-Gockmann, chief executive of WorldSkills UK, said: “Think Olympic Games – but much more important to the economic future of the United Kingdom.

“This is a life-changing opportunity for all those involved.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these extraordinary young people who will be on the plane to Russia. They have worked tirelessly for weeks, months and years to be the best – they are a shining example to the next generation – let’s celebrate their spirit, commitment, and success.”

Sam and his fellow competitors will now undergo a rigorous regime of Olympic-style training in preparation for 22 hours of competition over four days.

Some competitions, such as cooking in which Sam will compete, have completely blind tests.

Beforehand though, the competitors have to go through a boot camp at Loughborough University, where they are trained by 2012 Olympian Peter Bakare and John Walton, who was part of the training team for Team GB.

Competitors are taught how to diet, exercise and sleep to get them in prime condition and then each morning in Kazan, the competitors will have to be up at 6.30 for yoga and stretching.

The 45th WorldSkills event will take place in Kazan from August 22-27. At the last event, which took place two years ago in Abu Dhabi, Team UK retained its top-10 position, after competitors bagged one gold, three silvers, three bronzes and 13 medallions of excellence.