A TEENAGER hopes to follow in the wake of a legendary Olympian after jetting off to the United States to take up a prestigious swimming scholarship.

Former Bolton School pupil Daniel Sliwinski, aged 18, is one of only three swimmers to have received a full-time scholarship from Indiana University — the same establishment attended by 1970s swim star Mark Spitz.

The American received a scholarship at the university before going on to win nine gold medals in the 1972 Olympics.

Daniel is ranked number one in the world at under-18s 100m breaststroke and holds several British swimming records.

The university scholarship will cover all Daniel’s tuition costs plus other expenses, including food and accommodation. He will study for a degree in finance and have mentors to help him deal with the pressures of being an elite athlete and staying on top of his studies in the five-year programme.

He said: “My immediate goal is to make the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.

“If I can make these games, then the next focus will be on the London Olympics in 2012.”