I always query the motive of people that go to press about their achievements in this fashion.
I along with a handful of other people have been airline pilots on jets since 19, yet have not had the compulsion or desire to chase after the newspapers to tell my story. It's all circumstantial to whether you start your training at 17 or 40. I luckily had support from my parents to help back up loans etc...but why is that any greater achievement than working for 10years, funding your own training, as the financial backing, and in this case contacts (daddy fleet manager) weren't there.
It all strikes me as a bit desperate.