Zydon Lightbourne Furbert is enjoying arguably the finest year of his fledgeling athletic career to date.

The promising athlete has thrived in athletics and football over the past four months as he continues his pursuit of representing Bermuda at the Olympics and lacing up his boots in the English Premier League.

He set two records in the over-13 boys 200 metres (22.53sec) and 400 metres (52.71) on the way to being crowned champion at the Bermuda School Sport Federation athletics meet in May.

Lightbourne Furbert then followed up that success by earning two gold medals and setting a meet record during a phenomenal debut at the prestigious Russell E Blunt East Coast Invitational in North Carolina a month later.

The Bermuda Pacers Track Club athlete ran 49.54 in the final of the 400 metres, eclipsing the previous mark of 50.45 that had stood since 2005, while his time of 22.57 in the 200 placed him in the top ten performances for the event.

“I was absolutely speechless when I broke the record [at Russell E Blunt East Coast Invitational] and my heart dropped,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“It was an amazing feeling and to have my country back home supporting me made me feel so much better. I want to thank everyone who supported me,” the ambitious athlete added.

More recently, the 14-year-old has also made his presence felt on the football pitch as a member of the Bermuda team who are through to the semi-finals at the Caribbean Football Union Boys Under-14 Challenge Series in Trinidad & Tobago.

He netted six goals in four games as the Gombey Warriors topped Tier II Group C with a perfect record to set up a last-four showdown with

Anguilla at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain today (7pm).

“I feel as though the team are doing really well considering how we started off from playing the Bermuda Triangle Cup and we have definitely progressed as a team,” Lightbourne Furbert said. “We have definitely played better football instead of everyone going for themselves.

“Personally, I think I have played very well, especially the game against Sint Maarten. My touch was much better and I’ve improved technically.

“I have played a big part in the team with my goals and my assists. Also one of my coaches asked me ‘how big of a puzzle piece am I in the team’ and told me to reflect on it. That being said, I think I have put a big impact on the team.”

The winger has bagged the second-most goals at the tournament behind team-mate Jeon Wolfe (seven), both scoring hat-tricks in the 10-1 drubbing of Sint Maarten on Sunday.

While delighted to reach the semi-finals, Lightbourne Furbert has bigger plans in mind.

“I am thrilled that we made it this far undefeated. However, I am hoping to win the semi-final and final, not just make it this far and lose,” he added.

“I think if the team works together, keep our heads up when things don’t go our way and we don’t get complacent, we can win the tournament.”

The player is relishing a dream of finally getting an opportunity to represent Bermuda on the international football scene.

“It has been a dream of mine and I am very honoured to be in this position to represent my country,” he said. “Not many people have this opportunity, so I can’t take it for granted.

“I just want to thank God for giving me these wonderful opportunities and these wonderful abilities and attributes.

“I also want to thank my family for their support and believing in me and helping me every step of my journey.

“Also I want to thank the Bermuda Football Association for allowing me to come on this trip. The coaches have played a big part in my development as well, and I would like to thank them.

“I cherish football the most; it has been my favourite sport from a very young age.

“My goals for track are to continue to break records and hopefully make the Olympics. For football, I would like to make it to the Premier League or to a big club.”