ANZ Royal CNVLD Wheelie Grand Prix National Male Champion Van Vun is currently in Geelong, Australia training with some of the world's best athletes and coaches as part of his preparation to be the first ever Cambodian to qualify for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Vun is participating in the Parallel Sports Geelong Wheelchair Training Camp thanks to support from ANZ Royal Bank and Athletics Victoria who invited him for his first ever overseas trip. The intensive one week training camp has allowed Vun the opportunity to train at state of the art facilities alongside some of the best athletes in the world.

On his arrival, Vun was presented with a brand new custom fitted, high-tech racing chair, gloves and helmet by Parallel Sports Vice President Kaye Colman and her son Australian Paralympian Richard Colman who bought the parts especially on a recent trip to the US where he competed in the Boston Marathon. He was also presented with a set of spare tyre and tubes by Nikki Hommelhoff from local suppliers DeGrandi Cycle and Sports. Vun is being provided with expert coaching throughout the week from Australians Mandi Cole and Glenn Davies as well as being assisted with training tips and elite level technique from Richard Colman and world-ranking Japanese Paralympians Jun Hiromichi and Kota Hokinoue. 

Every morning, the team ride out 10km along the incredibly scenic local pathways to warm up for the gruelling day ahead. After a quick breakfast, it's down to the gym for a variety of sessions with weights, medicine balls and in the pool as well as boxing training. The whole crew then return to the Deakin University accommodation before heading to the Landy Field race track for hard, race specific track training; the first time Vun has ever raced on a proper race circuit.

The trip has been a revelation for the young Cambodian No.1 who has been welcomed to the camp with typical Aussie generosity. "This is a fantastic opportunity for me to train with some of the world's best athletes and coaches" Vun said in an interview from Australia on Wednesday, " It's good to have a chance to use a track and find out how to use my chair better and learn proper techniques. I am so happy to be here and want to thank ANZ Royal Bank, Parallel Sports, the Sutherland Family, the Minko Family and the Pich Family in Cambodia for all their support. I hope I can use this great opportunity to get closer to being able to compete in London 2012."

Vun has already made many new friends here in Australia and everyone has been hugely impressed not only with his natural ability and quick learning but also with his attitude and unwipable smile. His positivity and professionalism have been a credit to Cambodian Athletes with a DIsability and the CNVLD hopes to capitalise on the success of Vun's trip to build international interest in competing in the first ever Phnom Penh 10km International Wheelchair Marathon planned for 2011.

Vun has become somewhat of a local superstar after featuring in the local Geelong Advertiser newspaper twice in the last week including an article from the Landy Field track in Wednesday's edition.

The CNVLD wishes to thank ANZ Royal Bank and Parallel Sports as well as the Colman Family, the Sutherland Family, the Minko Family and the Pich Family for all their support in assisting Vun's quest to become the first ever Cambodian to qualify for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.