The volleyball star is the first of the Apple Elite athletes to give an insight into life at the top end of sport.
My name is Ben Tomlinson, I am 16 and one of the lucky athletes chosen for the Apple Elite programme.
I play volleyball for England and I am captain of the England Cadets, the Under 15 to 17s group.
In the Men’s National League I play for Nottingham Rockets, and at local and regional level for Worksop VC.
Since being selected by Apple, I’ve had some amazing experiences.
On Christmas morning I was in the gym preparing for a tournament in Holland, the Appledorn Volleyball event, where I finished sixth with the Newcastle Staffs, an oustanding achievement in an international event.
In early January I went to the Youth Sport Trust’s National Talent Orientation Camp at Loughborough.
Ninety elite sports stars of the future were put through their paces and I had the honour of hearing from double Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft, sprinter Darren Campbell and England RFU coaches.
I have had some fantastic support from Apple Fitness, working with Steve Chambers on a training programme and physiotherapy support.
I look forward to letting you know how I get on over the rest of the season.