COLCHESTER'S international swimmer Laura Stephens is hoping to impress at this weekend’s National Winter Championships in her ongoing bid to make the 2020 Olympics.

But the 19-year-old butterfly competitor insists she is determined to focus on one event at a time, as the prospect of Tokyo looms closer.

Stephens, who represented Team England at the Commonwealth Games in Australia earlier this year, is hoping to be part of the Great Britain swimming squad that competes at the Olympics in just over 18 months’ time.

However, the former Colchester Swimming Club member says she is not looking too far ahead, as she bids to keep working hard to achieve her goals.

Stephens said: “Tokyo is approaching really fast and everything I’m doing now is going towards that.

“But it’s also important to focus on achieving results in the short term.

“I know that I have to stay grounded, keep working hard and pushing myself in training.

“It’s nice to look back on the journey I’ve been on but it’s also important to keep taking steps forward.

“Competing at top events does gives me a lot of confidence.”

Stephens, from Wix, heads into the National Winter Championships, which get underway tomorrow in Sheffield, in good form.

The former Colchester County High School for Girls pupil shone at last month’s British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Nationals, claiming a fine 200 metres butterfly short course victory in 2:06.47.

It made Stephens, who was also third in the 100m butterfly short course, was the tenth fastest woman in the world this year for the 200m butterfly short course distance.

“I’m feeling really good,” said Stephens, who is hoping to see her former Colchester SC head coach Michelle Young in Sheffield, this weekend.

“Training has been very tough so far this season.

“I’ve had a big block of training and we have to make sure that our fitness is at a good enough level.

“I’m very happy with the progress I’ve made this year.

“So far, it’s been a very busy year and a very successful year.

“Competing at the Commonwealth Games this year was a big step forward for me and I feel it’s give me a bit more confidence, which is part of competitive swimming.

“So it’s been a positive year and I’m excited for the future.

“I hope I get results in the 100m and 200m fly and it would be good to get my times lower.”

Stephens is planning to return to Essex over the festive period, which could include a visit to her former club Colchester SC. She added: “It’ll be good to take a bit of time out to relax and have a break from it.”

“It’s important to do that sometimes.

“I have to switch off and enjoy being a bit more human, because you do get caught up in the swimming bubble.”