Everest climber Kenton Cool to be Olympic torchbearer

Image caption, Kenton Cool hopes to climb Everest for a 10th time before the Olympic torch relay begins

8 December 2011

A record-breaking Everest climber from Gloucestershire has been chosen to be an Olympic torchbearer.

Kenton Cool, 38, from Quenington, holds the British record for the number of ascents of the world's highest mountain, after scaling the peak nine times.

He said his "jaw hit the floor" when he found out he had been asked to take part.

Mr Cool is planning to climb Everest for a tenth time next year.

"It's just absolutely amazing," he said.

But he added: "I'm a bit concerned. With the torch relay starting on May 19th, that's pretty much summit time on Everest [for next year's expedition]. I really hope I'll be back in time."

More than 6,000 people have been chosen nationally to be torchbearers for London 2012.