Polly Maton was jumping for joy when she discovered she had made the grade to join the GB athletics team at the Paralympics.

The 16-year-old, from Urchfont, will contest the 100m and long jump in the T46 classification (single below or above the elbow amputation) in Rio in September.

The University of Bath-trained youngster was inspired to success by watching the London 2012 Games, featuring the likes of gold medallist Jonnie Peacock, whom she is now named alongside in the Team GB line-up.

Dauntsey’s School pupil Maton, pictured, was named Wiltshire’s senior female athlete of the year after becoming a triple world champion at the IWAS World Junior Games, having only made her international debut in 2014.

“I got the (Paralympics) call at about 7.30pm (on Monday) and it came as a big shock. I wasn’t expecting to be selected so I was really happy when I got the call,’’ she told the Gazette & Herald.

“Obviously I’m not in the medal prospects, I’m very much there for experience so I knew I wouldn’t be one of the first on the plane. I dreamt of going but it wasn’t something I thought would be a possibility.

“I went to watch London 2012 and I found it really inspiring. It definitely felt like something I wanted to do. I had funding but it was mainly for 2020 so to get the chance this time is truly incredible.”

Coach Colin Baross has been working with the sprinter for eight years and is delighted she has made the cut.

“She’s very driven and hard-working. If you ask her to do 10 laps she’ll do 12,’’ he said. “She’s very quietly confident. She doesn’t reach for the limelight, she just does the work and enjoys training and competing.”

Maton’s mum Felicity, who is hoping she, husband Anthony and daughter Lara, will be in Brazil to watch, said: “It’s been difficult because it’s such an incremental thing. Every year you’re aiming towards something, we are very proud of her.”