Middlesbrough long-jumper Chris Tomlinson targets Olympic medal

Tomlinson has never won an Olympic medal despite competing at Athens in 2004

Middlesbrough long jumper Chris Tomlinson believes he "can go the whole way" at next summer's 2012 London Olympic Games.

Tomlinson, 30, is yet to win a medal at the games, having won silver at the European Indoor Championships and a bronze at the Worlds.

"I train hard, I sit back and evaluate," Tomlinson told BBC Tees.

"I build, improve and get better and as long as I can be fit and healthy I have the belief I can go the whole way."

A calf injury robbed Tomlinson of his medal chances at the 2008 Beijing Games, while he finished fifth at Athens four years earlier.

With the Olympics returning to his home country for the first time since 1948, Tomlinson feels added pressure upon him.

He is currently training at his old stomping ground at Clairville in Middlesbrough, which is currently under threat of demolition and could be replaced by a state-of-the-art sporting village.

Tomlinson's emotional attachment has made the thought of it disappearing difficult.

"When Ayresome Park went and we moved to the Riverside, a lot of people were like 'oh but its Ayresome Park' - and I'm one of those people.

"However I accept life has to move on and we have to make sure that what we move to is better than what we've already got."

Tomlinson is also a massive Middlesbrough Football Clubg fan and has expressed his delight in the way the team is performing under manager Tony Mowbray.

Middlesbrough currently lie in third place in the Championship at the half-way stage of the season.

"Mowbray has done a tremendous job," he said.

"He's managed to get players in who want to play for the team.

"We're competitive and winning matches and it certainly looks like play-offs and who knows maybe promotion."