off for Tasmania next week to compete in the inaugural Special Olympics Junior National Games, to be held in Launceston from December 3 - 6.

Daniel has been selected in the NSW side and will compete against teams from Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the ACT and host state Tasmania.

The 15-year-old Moss Vale High School student, who started swimming when he was nine, said he was looking forward to competing at his first national titles.

"I will compete in the medley, the 200-metre breaststroke and the 100-metre freestyle," Daniel said.

Daniel's family will be there to cheer him on during the games, with brother Andrew missing his Year 10 formal in a bid to be poolside.

It has been a busy year for Daniel. In January he competed at the Country Regional Championships in Goulburn, where he finished second in all five events he entered.

In February he was named age-champion after the Moss Vale High School Carnival. There he came first in four events, second in one event and his team won the relay. This was all against able-bodied competitors.

He went on to the school zone carnival where, again against able-bodied competitors, Daniel made his mark finishing third in the 50-metre freestyle.