A DEBUT Olympics appearance holds no fear for Aldershot, Farnham & District athlete Andy Vernon.

The 30-year-old has been patient in waiting for his shot at the Olympic Games and admitted it was a relief to eventually be named in the Team GB squad.

The 10,000m runner will line up on the start line in Rio alongside London 2012 gold medallist Mo Farah, as well as Ross Millington, and knows what he wants, to come home happy.

“It feels great to be a part of Team GB, it’s genuinely something I have been working towards for more than half of my life, so to finally be going is a huge satisfaction and relief at the same time,” said the St Mary’s University graduate.

“I’m definitely ready for the Olympics now. It will be such an overwhelming experience, it will bring brilliant memories and hopefully I perform well and can go out and just enjoy competing.

“If I’m really realistic, then I think a top-eight finish would be a successful Rio for me. Obviously, everyone wants to win a medal and I will do as well as I can, but realistically if I could get inside the top eight, that, for me, would be good.”

Vernon’s preparations have been effected by inflammation in his foot, but the 2014 European silver medallist is confident he will be fit and ready for Rio.

“It has hampered me over the past nine or ten months, along with other injuries, so my build-up hasn’t been great. But I’ve maintained cross training fitness and the last 12 or so weeks have been very good. I have come back into some shape, found some form and I just need to continue that now.

“I’m certainly not going to get excited on the line and run faster than I’ve ever run before. You have to be realistic. Generally, everyone is a bit nervous and edgy, so the first few laps are a bit of finding your feet and getting a good position.”

Vernon was one of many promising young athletes to be coached by AFD’s Mick Woods. He is now coached by Nic Bideau, the husband of Sonia O’Sullivan.

He won gold over 5,000m at the World University Games in 2011 and has credited his British Universities & Colleges Sport experiences for helping him develop into an Olympic athlete.

“The BUCS Championships is the biggest team competition I have ever been in – in terms of the rivalry that is built up,” said Fareham-born Vernon, who had a well-publicised spat with Mo Farah on social media last year.

British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK, representing more than 150 institutions. Covering 52 sports, BUCS aids grass-roots participation through to supporting aspiring elite athletes en route to Commonwealth or Olympic Games (www.bucs.org.uk).