YA Sci Fi From The 80s

Hi guys,

I'm trying to find a book/series I read as a child in the 80s/90s. It was a sci fi book. The character was the last of a ... military unit and/or race. A prequel book had him taking part in a training exercise that doubles as a sort of Olympic games. He didnt quite win and so got in to the elite unit as they needed to see how he reacted to loss.

I suspect his name was short, like Kip, but that could be me mixing up with other books.

Thanks in advance for any help.

This is likely The last Legionary series by Douglas Hill. The books tell of the adventures of Keill Randor, the last survivor of his planet's population.

Randor himself is one of the most skilled amongst his people, twice winner of the planetwide martial arts contest, a feat bettered by only one other legionary in the history of the contest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Legionary

You are a star!!

Glad I could help.