Travelling to Portugal to train with the world’s best has helped a Christchurch teen towards his goal of becoming an Olympic gymnast.

Patrick Smith, 16, and his coach David Colvin spent a week earlier this month in Anadia, Portugal at a training/coaching camp with British gymnastics coach Scott Hann.

Patrick fundraised to cover the $4500 cost of the trip and used his own savings, but he also received a $500 grant from his local Community Board, Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton.

Without the grant he says it’s unlikely he would have been able to take up the opportunity to learn from Hann, who coaches two members of the British Olympic gymnastics team, including five-time Olympic medal winner Max Whitlock.

“It was definitely helpful. My budget was pretty tight and without that extra amount I don’t think I would’ve been able to go. It was an awesome experience.”

Patrick, who trains and coaches at Olympia Gymnastic Sports in Wigram, says the camp organised by the SunLive Group camp was very challenging. There were five days of training dedicated to different gymnastics disciplines, including pommel horse, parallel bars, high bars, vault, rings, and floor.

“I’ve got quite a few more skills now. The training facilities there helped out a lot because there was a lot more space.”

Patrick, who is a year 12 student at St Thomas of Canterbury College, trains for about three hours a day seven days a week and his ambition is to represent New Zealand at an Olympic Games. He is a developing coach at Olympia so the camp also gave him coaching techniques that will benefit young gymnasts under his guidance.

With eight years of gymnastics behind him, he has already represented Canterbury and New Zealand at competitions here and in Australia and is training for the upcoming New Zealand Artistic Gymnastic Championships in Nelson.

"It's pleasing for Board members to see how these grants can help young people learn and develop their skills and gain valuable life experiences. Patrick is just one of many young people who have benefited from the Youth Development Fund, and he's a good example of its importance," Halswell-Riccarton-Hornby Board Chair Mike Mora says.

Patrick’s mum Janelle Smith says he came back from Portugal in a very positive frame of mind. “He’s just more motivated because he can see what’s out there and he’s been there in person. He’s got some big dreams and we’re always behind him 100 per cent to give him those opportunities.”