Two eight-year-olds go to New York to compete in 'fastest kid in the world' race

Two Irish children are all set to travel to New York in hopes of being crowned the ‘fastest kid in the world’.

Eight-year-old Charlie Sweeney from Mervue in Co Galway, and Saoirse Higgins from Co Sligo, also eight, are jetting off to the Millrose Games in New York.

Known as the Indoor Olympics in the running world, the 55m race will see hundreds of children from around the globe compete to be crowned the ‘fastest in the world’. 

Travelling this Sunday, February 11 to the ‘Big Apple’, Charlie says he is ‘buzzing’ to be going. 

“I'm so excited and buzzing now about going to New York. Me and my mother are the only two people in my entire family going and I can't wait. But it's going to be tiring because I'm going on a seven hour flight."

Charlie is a member of the Travelling community and attends school in Radharc na Mara DEIS in Mervue, Galway. He also plays football and loves boxing. 

Radharc na Mara principal Keith Joyce said Charlie's speed ‘was off the charts’: "You know, to think that we're in the middle of Galway city, we're sending a child all the way over to New York to take part in and compete against children from all over the world…

"I know that Charlie is really going to enjoy this once in a lifetime trip. He's been working very hard at all the sports he plays. He trains in the Olympic boxing club in Westside, he plays football with Galway Hibernians and he plays Gaelic football with the school team here under the tutelage of Galway senior footballer, John Daly."

The 116th Millrose Games will be broadcasted on US television and will see children and adults compete in a range of races throughout the day.

Both Saoirse and Charlie will meet six Olympic medallists at a press conference in New York and attend a black tie gala over the weekend.