A TRIO of cousins from Bury are hoping for Olympic glory.

Andrew Swinton (32) and brothers Dickran Nakashian (21) and Shant Nakashian (19) jet off tomorrow (Sat Aug 18) to compete in the Olympic Games of Armenia.

They have qualified for the sporting spectacular because Mr Swinton's mother, Jenny, who lives in Apollo Avenue, was born in Armenia.

The three athletes are the sole representatives for Manchester in the country's second Olympics. They are among 3,000 participants from 32 countries to be taking part.

Mr Swinton, who runs his own management consultancy company said: "I had foreseen difficulties getting on a national Olympic team, so when this opportunity emerged I jumped at it. "I believe that the Armenian Olympics is truer to the ancient Olympic ideal in that it allows an unknown contender to get a shot at the greatest recognition in sporting achievement: the gold medal.

"I have always been competitive and feel that in business I've probably taken it as far as I can go. I want to try and do the same in the field of sport."

He will actually be competing against his own cousins in the freestyle swimming event, which could cause some rivalry!

"On land I would give anything to help my cousins get ahead, but when we get into the water they are going to have their own 'demons' to fry. My cousins need to realise that I'm not going for the silver," said Mr Swinton, a former pupil of Castlebrook High School.

The trio have been invited to carry the Union Jack in the opening ceremony at the stadium in Armenia's capital, Yerevan.

Mr Swinton is hoping his unorthodox training methods will result in him attaining glory.

"They say to catch a thief you need to think like a thief. I needed to understand the swimming mind from something that uses water in its natural habitat: fish. Studying the way they move in water can be very educational. I know an aquarium where you can touch the fish and after work I often crouched over the tank, watching. I think it has stood me in good stead."