A water polo coach who has taken his team from division two to the top of the premier league is preparing to carry the Olympic torch.

Chris Martin has been a member of Croydon Amphibians for 50 years, competing as a swimmer and water polo player before stepping up to take on coaching 16 years ago.

His efforts have been rewarded with a nomination to run a leg of the torch relay as the convoy travels through Godstone, Surrey, on Friday.

He said: “The tracksuit arrived the other day and it is really sinking in now. “I’ve got club members, family and work colleagues coming down.”

Mr Martin, a civil engineer from Kenley, will also be attending four Olympic water polo sessions as a spectator and taking a team of young players to act as ball boys for six sessions of the Games.

The 56-year-old father-of-three has also twice been president of the London Water Polo League and in 2010 he received the water polo coach of year award from ASA London Swimming for his dedication.

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