PORTLAND star Jay Lelliott is hungrier than ever for success at next month’s British Swimming Championships.

The 20-year-old is gearing up for this year’s domestic showdown fresh from a breakthrough year that saw him claim 400m European freestyle bronze and reach the final of the 1500m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games.

Those performances were two proud moments for Lelliott, who believes he is starting to show glimpses of what he is capable of. However, an intense block of training leading into the Championships at the London Aquatics Centre has started to take its toll on Lelliott, who is set to compete in five different events.

“I had a really strong year last year and my preparations in the last few weeks have been great. I’ve been destroying myself in training,” he said.

“I am feeling quite confident but I have had a cold of late which has been a bit annoying but nothing serious. I think I can go into the Championships healthy and in good shape to do really well and hopefully make a mark.

“I’ll be going in the 1500m, 400m and 200m freestyle as well as the 200m fly and I think I might have accidentally entered the 100m fly so it’ll definitely be busy!

“I think winning a European medal last year came as a complete shock and I never could have imagined the season that I had.

“There is always a danger of complacency when you do well but I think that, if anything, doing so well has only made me more hungry.”

A strong 2014 has made qualification for next year’s Olympic Games a real target and Lelliott is hoping that the road to Rio can start in the capital next month.

“I am really happy with how last year went for me and I think that I managed to make a statement with some of my performances,” he added.

“The Olympics has to be everyone’s goal though and I believe in myself and my ability to get there.”

  • Come and support the country’s best swimmers from 14-18 April at London Aquatics Centre. Buy your tickets now http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/feature/british-swimming