By Luke Beddows Blast reporter, BBC Radio Leeds

Timms' longest jump is 7m 62cm

Come the 2012 London Games there will not have been a British Olympic long jump medallist in nearly 50 years.

But one young athlete from West Yorkshire is looking to put that right.

Anthony Timms, 21, is already the best long jumper in his age group - 30cm clear of his closest rival.

"I don't want to sound too confident but 2012 is definitely something I am aiming for," he said.

Timms, from Farsley, leads a hectic lifestyle managing his hours between training, study and stacking shelves in a supermarket.

I wouldn't be training as much as I am if I didn't think I could make it Anthony Timms

The majority of Timms' time is spent at Leeds Metropolitan University where he studies sport science and with his final year looming all-important training time may have to be substituted for study.

"Next year's going to be the tough one because it's my third year so I'll have a dissertation to work on and all kinds of other exams," he said.

Timms is aiming to be at next year's Commonwealth games in India.

"It's going to be a lot of work. I'm still young so I've got time to strengthen up. Add things to my training and you never know I could get there," he said.

His bid to get to the top can only be helped by rubbing shoulders with other young hopefuls in training.

"In our group we've got a few other good athletes - there's Daniel Gardner, who's one of the best decathletes in the world for his age group, then there's Umar Hameed who's one of the top sprinters in the country for his age," he said.

Sporting talent also runs in the family with younger brother, Adam.

"He is also one of the best decathletes in the country for his age, so we're all pretty good," he said.

"Everyone knows we're all good athletes but we're not idolised or anything like that."

Timms has his feet planted firmly on the ground but his ambition knows no limit.

"To compete in your own Olympics in your own country would just be amazing - all the support you would get, just to be Olympic champion," he said.

"The world record is every athlete's dream and to be the best ever in your event, that's why I'm training to be honest.

"I wouldn't be training as much as I am if I didn't think I could make it."

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