CHRIS Tomlinson last night turned his attention towards next month's Olympic Games and insisted: "I know there's a medal in me".

The Middlesbrough-based long jumper was finally confirmed in Great Britain's 58-strong athletics squad yesterday after an agonising seven-day wait in which his participation had been thrown into doubt.

Despite enjoying the most consistent season of his life, Tomlinson has failed to achieve the Olympic 'A' qualifying standard of 8.19m - a particularly stringent mark that would have been good enough to have claimed fourth place in last year's World Championships.

But the selectors have decided to take him to Athens on the strength of the 'B' standard leap he achieved in Madrid last weekend and his record of qualifying for the last three major finals in a row.

The 22-year-old was understandably relieved at the confirmation of his Olympic place, and was quick to stress that he will not be going to Greece to make up the numbers.

"There's a bit of relief there but I'm also chuffed to bits," said Tomlinson, who boasts a career-best leap of 8.27m.

"I know it was up in the air for a little while, but I think it would have been a travesty if I hadn't got in.

"I'm in great shape and I know I'm capable of really doing something special at the Olympics.

"Dwight Phillips looks like he's head and shoulders above everyone else at the moment - he jumped against me in Madrid and looked in great shape.

"But he's the only person that looks to be out of reach. I've beaten everyone else in the world at some stage this year so I've got to be full of confidence."

Tomlinson's selection was not without controversy as it came at the expense of British rival Nathan Morgan.

Morgan passed the 'A' qualifying mark last year, and had argued that he would have achieved it again had his season not been interrupted by an appendix operation.

But the selectors have chosen to side with Tomlinson's potential and, while the youngster admits to having some sympathy for his teammate, he is confident their decision will be vindicated next month.

"I feel sorry for Nathan because I know how much he wanted to go to the Olympics," admitted Tomlinson. "But the bottom line is that I've been jumping further than him all season.

"I proved it again at the weekend by jumping 17.99m in Spain. 18.00 would have sounded a lot better - but that's the way it goes sometimes.

"I've had a few technical problems, but I'm well on the way to getting those ironed out.

"My biggest jump was my last one in Madrid and, if there had been another two or three rounds, I'm confident I would have gone even further still."

The qualifying round for the Olympic long jump takes place on August 24, with the final following two days later, and Tomlinson's preparations will intensify after he leaves for a pre-Games training camp in Cyprus early next month.

Before then, he will combine some technical training sessions with a well-earned rest as the clock continues to tick down.

"It's not far away now," said Tomlinson. "So it's a case of preparing yourself but making sure you don't push things too much."