TROWBRIDGE-BASED high jump star Rob Mitchell is ready to make a leap of faith this Sunday as he bids to qualify for London 2012 at the Olympic Trials on Sunday.

The 30-year-old, who set the Welsh outdoor record of 2.25m almost 10 years ago and the Welsh indoor record of 2.24m in 2009, is heading for Birmingham this weekend to attempt to qualify for his first-ever Olympic Games.

Mitchell, who hails from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, competed for Wales in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and knows that clinching Games places will come down to performances on the day.

“I qualified for the B standard for the Sydney Olympics (in 2000) and didn’t get picked, so I really think you need to be jumping the A standard (2.31m) this weekend to be guaranteed,” said Mitchell.

“I’m in great shape and I’ve added a few loose strides to my run-up recently, whereas before I always used to have a short one.

“It’s going to be tough but I’m cautiously optimistic about my chances.

“It’s really all going to come down to who does the best on the day and I think if I can get in the top three, I’ll have a great chance.”

Mitchell has been based in Trowbridge for around a year and runs his own personal training business, Elite Personal Fitness.

He added: “I’ve always moved to wherever was best to train and I’ve spent seven years in Liverpool.

“My coach, Denis Doyle, is based in Cardiff so I moved here and I do my training in Bath.

“I’ve always grown up with the hustle and bustle of being near London so it’s definitely a lot quieter over here but I think it’s been worth it.

“For a lot of people, this Olympics could be their last shot and my coach has talked to me about going for the 2014 Commonwealth Games but I’m not thinking about that yet.”