Redditch swimmer Jamie Salter left for Australia yesterday to acclimatise himself before the Olympics kick off in Sydney next month.

The Matchborough-born swimmer has in the past three years scooped medals from the European, Commonwealth and World championships as a member of the British team.

And now an Olympic medal is all that's missing from his collection.

A spokesman for the swimmer said: "So many people in Redditch are behind Jamie and wishing him the best for the Games he is going to make sure he is perfectly prepared and completely acclimatised before they start."