Long jumper Chris Tomlinson insists he can snatch a surprise medal in Athens although he admits it is highly unlikely he will come away with the title.

The 22-year-old from Teesside firmly believes that if he matches his lifetime best of 8.27metres he could well be in with a chance of finishing in the minor medal positions.

In Athens Tomlinson will come up against American Dwight Phillips, who has six of the seven longest jumps in the world this year - all of them further than Tomlinson's personal best, including an imperious leap of 8.60m.

Tomlinson knows securing a medal will be a tough proposition but is confident that, Phillips apart, he has the beating of his other opponents.

He said: ''Dwight Phillips is head and shoulders above everybody, but the other guys haven't scared me this year.

''I want to go there and enjoy the Olympic experience, but there is more to it than that.

''If I jump to my personal best or jump an 8.28m windy then I'm going to be in with a shout.''

Tomlinson's selection for Athens was a contentious one as he had only achieved the B qualifying standard this year.

However, he is determined to make the most of this reprieve, despite his best jump this year of 8.13m placing him a long way down the rankings.

''When I found out I was going to the Olympics, I thought - 'Let's look into this a little bit further and see exactly what it will take to get myself a medal'.

''I need to jump between 8.25m and 8.30m, and my personal best is 8.27m.

''It's not going to be enough to win it but around those distances and I could get a bronze medal.

''There are a number of people who are gunning for a second or third place, and who are probably all thinking that if they get it all right on the night then they will be gunning for second or third spot.

''I'm fortunate enough that I've got the confidence having already jumped against these people.''