Garland finally jets off to China

Garland will have to focus until the end of the Olympics (Getty)

Guernsey's top athlete Dale Garland heads to the far east on Friday for the Olympics after months of uncertainty over whether he would get a place.

Garland, 27, thought his chances of selection in the 400m hurdles were over after he injured his hamstring ahead of the British trials last month.

But he has been included as part of the six-man 4x400m relay squad.

"I'm going to have to be a bit more serious and stay focused right up until the last minute," he told BBC Guernsey.

"I will have to keep my training up. When other people have finished they can go out and take in the other sports and all take in a bit more of the atmosphere."

The 4x400m relay is the final athletics event to be held in Beijing with the heats on Friday 22 August and the final a day later.