Essex boy discusses Olympic ambition and why Bath University will be familar terrority

Former Coopers Coborn pupil Tom Toolis hopes to make the most of representing Great Britain at the University of Bath, where he studies, next month in a bid to earn a trip to the 2016 Olympics.

The Modern Pentathlon European Championships take place from August 18-23 and it is a key competition for those looking to earn a spot in the team that goes to Rio, Brazil.

A successful performance in Bath could see Toolis book his spot in the GB squad and in the process complete a dream of being selected for the Olympic Games.

It is a great chance for the Essex lad to do well and he is looking forward to having home support behind him.

Toolis said: “I am really happy that the championships are at Bath and I am looking forward to having the crowd behind me.

“I know all my family have tickets and I am trying to convince my friends from Romford to come and support me as I look to achieve a dream by getting selected for the Olympics in Rio.

“I have been at Bath for three years and next year I am taking a year out to focus on the sport. The men’s team is so strong so I don’t want to say anything yet about getting selected for the Olympics, I just need to keep working hard and I will stay on the right track.”

If Toolis can finish inside the top eight at the European Championships he will earn selection for Rio.

But it will be tough and although he has home turf advantage with Bath being his university, it also applies to his Great Britain team-mates.

Toolis is named in an eight-strong GB squad alongside multiple World Cup winner and world record holder Jamie Cooke, double Olympian Nick Woodbridge and Joseph Choong in the men’s team.

Therefore the competition will be tough, but Toolis is confident and full of belief after an encouraging display in the mixed relay with Kate French at the World Championships recently.

“Last year I was in the relay, but I have stepped up to the individual category and it has been a really good year for me,” added Toolis.

“Coming back from the poor performance I put in during the individual semi-finals of the World Championships and doing well in the mixed with Kate has really got my confidence back again.

“We will all be buzzing come August, all the British athletes train at Bath and have lived here for a couple of years, so we’re all familiar with it, so hopefully that can help.”