Jack Burnell has had his place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games confirmed for over eight months now, but the University of Derby open water swimmer is not resting on his laurels as he looks to come back from Brazil with gold around his neck.

Burnell finished fifth in the World Championship 10km marathon swimming event in Kazan, Russia, last July to become the first British athlete to win a named place for the Olympics.

That was the 22-year-old best result on the international stage to date and has him full of confidence that he can get on the podium for the 10km open water event at the Olympics this summer.

Having a spot at the Games wrapped up so early may leave some athletes full of self-satisfaction, but for Burnell qualification was simply the first phase.

“Qualifying for Rio is a great achievement for me but that’s certainly not the end goal,” said Burnell.

“Qualification is only the start of it – step one really. Going out to Rio and getting that gold medal is the aim.

“There’s a lot of pressure building up to Rio and the coaches and support staff are just trying to calm me down with all the hype around the event.

“I’ve been to Rio to do the test event out there and the scenery is stunning. It’s going to be a spectacle and I can’t wait for it. The medal is the goal and that’s what people want to see.”

Burnell’s form in the early stages of this year has been impressive with podium finishes at the Australian Open Water Swimming Championships and the FINA World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Once Rio 2016 is done and dusted, the Loughborough-based swimmer – who is studying for a business degree at University of Derby – will be at the Swim Serpentine event, a new two-day open water swimming festival in Hyde Park on 24-25 September.

Up to 6,000 people are expected to swim in the mass participation mile on Saturday September 24 and Burnell is in no doubt that anyone who enters will love the experience.

“There are going to be 6,000 smiling faces and the sense of achievement will be massive,” added Burnell. “At the start people will be nervous, scared of the water and not sure what to expect.

“But I guarantee for anyone that comes down to the Swim Serpentine event, when you get out the sense of achievement will be massive. You will absolutely love the event.

“You can’t argue that the venue isn’t absolutely stunning, right in the centre of London.

“Using a challenge to raise money for charity is also a fantastic way of doing things. It gets you out there, involved in something and active. But it also gives you the satisfaction of raising money for a good cause.”

Swim Serpentine is a new two-day open water swimming festival that will be staged in the heart of London over the weekend of 24-25 September 2016. For more information or to sign up, go to www.swimserpentine.co.uk