Olympic ambitions for Jersey gold medallist Nowacki

"I think if you ask most young kids growing up in sport, and definitely in swimming, they'll say the Olympics is is where they'll want to end up."

For 18-year-old Filip Nowacki that dream looks set to be a reality after his superb display for Jersey at the Commonwealth Games.

Having won the Channel Island's first medal of any colour since 1990 when he beat mentor and world record-holder Adam Ramsay-Peaty to take silver in the 100m breaststroke he went on to claim just the second gold medal ever won by an athlete representing Jersey three days later.

His victory in the 200m breaststroke - in which, like the 100m, he is world junior champion - announced him on a global stage.

He beat former Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook in a time of 2:07.87 - a mark that would have won him bronze at the last Olympic Games.

"I think I'm moving in the right direction," the modest and softly spoken teenager told BBC Jersey.

"I've come here to my first Commonwealth Games and I've performed well under pressure.

"So I'm just really looking forward to the next couple of years, but I've got Europeans first, so I think it's all eyes on that for me now and then hopefully move in the right direction after that."

Having just finished his A-Levels Nowacki was already preparing for a new chapter in his life as he leaves Millfield School and moves to Loughborough to carry on his training.

But that chapter takes on a new significance having been so successful in his first senior international meet.

Nowacki is part of the Team GB Olympic programme and is now focused on the European Championships in Paris which start on 10 August.

There he is set to face his toughest test against Olympic champion Leon Marchand in home water.

"I think it's always a challenge going from one target competition into another target competition," he added.

"I think for me it's just about trying to improve from my mistakes from this week going into two weeks time and see where I can go from there time-wise.

"I love the pressure. I love walking out into the arena.

"I typically wear headphones and then just before we leave the call room I'll take the headphones out and really try to take all that energy in from the crowd and use that to the best of my advantage."

Nowacki also has the advantage of having triple Olympic gold-medallist and eight-time world champion Ramsay-Peaty in his corner.

The Jersey swimmer has been part of his AP Race group and said it was special to be training and racing alongside his idol.

"I've always looked up to him ever since I was eight, nine, 10 years old when he won his first Olympics in Rio and then again in Tokyo," Nowacki said.

"He had a great performance in Paris as well, so I've looked up to him for a very, very long time.

"The first time I actually raced him was in Paris at the Olympic trials and I was in a final with him and also Max Morgan.

"We were just the two random kids no-one's ever heard of, 14, 15 years old, and I remember Adam came up to me and Max and gave us both a fist bump and we looked at each other and we were like 'what had just happened' and were just completely speechless.

"But now to be racing up against him and and giving him a proper race is very special."

Nowacki is also aware of the impact of his achievements on his home island.

Jersey's last gold medallist - shooter Colin Mallett - said Nowacki's achievements would give him lifelong memories while his medals were recognised at the top of the island's government.

"I saw the Jersey flag fly a couple of nights before, but to see it in the middle and to hear the anthem was very special," he said of the moment Beautiful Jersey played out across the Tollcross pool.

"Unfortunately I'm still 18 so I probably haven't fully emotionally developed, so I'm not a very emotional guy just yet, but that was very special to me.

"Seeing the Jersey flag fly and everyone standing hearing the Jersey anthem was very special."