MOST sportspeople count their lucky stars if they set a record in their event but disability swimming sensation Oliver Carter can go one better than that.

In fact, the talented S10 athlete can go SEVEN better than that.

The Carnegie Swimming Club star broke eight Scottish swimming records in 2016 and now he is targeting even more success as the 2017 season gets under way.

After competing at the Ulster Internationals this month, the teenager, who benefits from being part of the SSE Next Generation scheme, is travelling to the British internationals in April.

Among 17-year-old Carter’s records was the 400 metres freestyle at the East District Championships in November, which saw him beat five-time Paralympian Paul Noble’s 22-year-old record.

In December, he became the first Scot to swim the 100m freestyle in under one minute in the S10 category at the National Para Swimming Games in Manchester, where he won one gold and three silver medals overall.

Carter is proud of his success and, as well as being hungry for more, is working hard at his technique in order to make himself as fast as he can possibly be.

“I managed to get eight Scottish records at the end of 2016,” Carter said. “I’m very proud of them – I’ve done it a few times where I’ve broken my own record – and it is a great feeling.

“But there’s a whole bunch of different stuff you’re hoping to improve on. I had a swimming camp over Christmas that was about stroke efficiency, conserving time and energy – I’ve been working on that ever since Christmas.

“I am meaning to keep my head steady and keep a strong core.

“I had another British swimming camp with the academy down in Manchester, in January, where we worked on stroke efficiency and speed development and all sorts. You see it in training where you go from 20 strokes a length to 14 strokes a length; 20 strokes a length was 2014, so I’ve managed to knock it down to 14 in just three years.”

SSE’s Next Generation programme partners with SportsAid to provide financial support and training to the sports stars of the future. Keep up to date with the latest @SSENextGen.