Watching Michael Phelps win a record eight gold medals in the pool at the Beijing Olympics inspired Ashley Pattison to become a better swimmer.

And the Sittingbourne 18-year-old will get a taste of what it will be like to compete in London 2012 when he competes in the British Gas Championships next month.

The championships, which are doubling as the GB Olympic trials, are being held in the London Aquatics Centre where the Olympic swimming events will be held this summer.

The former Black Lion Gillingham SC member has qualified to compete in the men’s 100m backstroke at the trials and said: "I can’t wait. I am really excited. I have seen the Olympic pool from the outside and it looks huge.

"I watched the Beijing Olympics on television while I was on holiday and seeing Phelps win eight golds was amazing. Before that I had been only been a good swimmer but I then started to train hard."

The results of his extra efforts began to show through when Ashley won the Kent 100m and 200m backstroke titles in 2010 and later that year, he joined the City of Norwich SC after winning a place to study sport at Easton College.

Last year, apart from setting Norfolk county records for the 50, 100 and 200m backstroke, he also reached the semi-finals of the 18yr 100m backstroke in the British Championships in what was only his second appearance in the event.

Now Pattison is looking forward to competing against Great Britain’s Olympic hopefuls in the senior championships, saying: "I haven’t set myself any goals like reaching the semi-final or final. I just want to go and enjoy the experience of competing in my first international competition."