Eye gymnast Smith, 19, flies out to Beijing tomorrow where he will compete in all six gymnastics disciplines but it's on the pommel horse where many believe he has an excellent chance of making the podium.

Already a Commonwealth gold and world bronze medallist on the apparatus, few would back against the former Arthur Mellows pupil adding an Olympic gong to his CV.

But to do it Smith knows he will have to go where no other British man has gone before.

No male gymnast from these shores has ever made an Olympic final, let alone won a medal, but the Hunts Gym Club member is confident he can re-write the record books.

Smith said: "I know I have a routine good enough to get me a medal but it's scary if I think about it too much.

"Gymnastics is such a hit and miss sport that if the smallest thing goes wrong on the day it is all over for another four years.

"But I think I can handle that pressure as I have been to major events before and established myself as a force among the world's best gymnasts."

Mum Elaine is also making the trip to Beijing for the most important few days of his life.

But rather than her act as a calming influence when the competition starts at the Beijing Gymnasium on August 9, Smith admits it could actually be the other way round.

He added: "It's great that mum is going to be there as she has been a huge influence on my career and I owe her so much, but I am not sure if she will be any good at keeping me calm to be honest.

"She gets really over-excited and is already a lot more nervous about it than I am so it will probably be me trying to make sure she doesn't get too hyper!

"Hopefully though I will give her something to get excited about and there would be nothing better than standing on the podium with a medal round my neck knowing mum's is there with me."