Baby Bladerunner Rio returns from Rome training camp

Ten-year-old represents England at European Amputee Football Federation event

Ten-year-old Rio Woolf has returned from Rome where he took part in this year’s European Amputee Football Federation (EAFF) Junior Training Camp.

Selected by The England Amputee Football Association (EAFA), Rio, who’s been dubbed ‘baby bladerunner’, having been born with tibial aplasia, which resulted in his right leg being amputated through the knee, joined 70 young footballers, aged 5-16, from ten European countries, for the camp, which included morning and evening training sessions, as well as having the chance to take in some of the city’s famous sights.

He said: “It was great meeting lots of other children like me from all over Europe. I really enjoyed playing all the matches and learning different techniques in the training. I can’t wait for the next EAFA Junior Camp in Crewe next week, I’m going with my dad so we’re going to have a boys’ weekend!”

Rio enjoying one of the training sessions during the European Amputee Football Federation (EAFF) Junior Training Camp

Rio’s mum Juliette, added: “We were so excited when Rio was selected once again. It was wonderful to see Rio’s confidence boosted as he trained with other amputee children. We’re so proud of Rio for adapting to training in the heat and to a different style of football, he’d been practising on his crutches in the garden before we left for Rome so really built up his speed and was flying around the pitch!”