BOURNEMOUTH athlete Nathan Bailey is jumping for joy after securing Team GB a spot at the Olympics this summer.

Nathan, who lives in Southbourne, has recently returned from a test event in Rio de Janeiro where he managed to secure his country a male trampoline place at the 2016 games.

The 22-year-old, who trains at OLGA Poole, scored 104.695 points for his two routines.

Speaking to the Echo, he said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the result. I have been training so hard over the last four years and qualifying the spot for team GB just means the world to me.

"There are still a couple of test events to go before the games start in August, but fingers crossed I can secure the spot in my name.

"Now I've been to the HSBC Arena in Rio where the trampolining events will take place in the summer I really hope that I'll get the chance to go back there and compete for my country."

Nathan started trampolining when he was just a toddler.

"My parents took me to toddler gymnastics at the Littledown Centre and I saw the trampoline in the corner of the room and just thought it looked amazing," added Nathan.

"And my feelings have never changed."

The former St Peter's Sixth Form student began competing with the Ringwood and Bournemouth Trampoline Club around the age of six. At the age of 14 he moved to OLGA club in Poole to "up his training".

Having just missed out on a chance to compete in the London Olympics four years ago, Nathan is hoping all of his hard work will pay off and he will be the one heading to Rio in just four short months.

"I’m feeling really confident this year after getting bronze at the European Championships," he added.

"I know that I just need to get through to the games and then during the competition just do my own performance and not worry about anyone else."

Nathan still has two competitions to go before the Olympics starts on August 5, including a world cup event in Italy in June then the British championships in Liverpool in July.

"Hopefully they will help me continue to gain momentum on the lead up to the Olympics."

Britain already has two female trampoline places at Rio.