Bicester's rising star, Kieran Bird, believes his selection for the European Youth Olympic Festival is perfect preparation as he moves ever closer to securing his dream of competing at Tokyo 2020.

Bird’s victory in the junior 200m butterfly at the British Championships in April helped the Cooper School pupil qualify for the EYOF event in Tbilisi, Georgia, later this month.

Bird, 15, is realistic about his chances of reaching the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next summer, but Tokyo is certainly on his radar.

He said: “This is the first step towards making the Olympic team and achieving my dream of competing at the Olympics.

“Competing in the Olympics is the primary objective for my career. I’m looking at the 2020 Games as a realistic goal.

“That will be in five years’ time and I have a lot more time to knock off my personal best.

“I have always wanted to represent Team GB and this is the first step for that.

“I have represented England in Italy before, but not Great Britain. Not many people get the chance to represent Great Britain and it will be great to be able to say I have done that.

“I will be so proud to say I have swum for my country.”

The Bicester Blue Fins swimmer also finished third in the junior 400m freestyle at the British Championships.

Bird expects to take part in the 100m and 200m butterfly at the EYOF, which takes place between July 26 and August 1.

He said: “I’m ranked sixth or seventh in Europe for my age group, so I want to make a final.

“I didn’t record my best times at the British Championship because I was favourite (in the junior section) and the nerves got to me a bit whereas that won’t be the case this time.

“If I can get a better time then I may be able to medal.

I definitely want to make the final and getting a medal is something for me to aspire to.

“I only took part in my first international competition in Italy in May when I represented England, but this is going to be for Team GB, so it is major.

“This is the first international event where I will be competing alongside swimmers who could be in the Olympics in a few years time.

“It is really exciting. I just want to take in the occasion and enjoy it.

“My training for the last few months has been really hard and focused on this event ever since the British Championships.”

To follow the team out at Tbilisi 2015 visit www.TeamGB.com or via Twitter using @ TeamGB