AFTER finally getting close to repeating his London 2012 exploits at the World University Games, Craig Benson insists it is all systems go to make a splash at Rio.

Having never appeared in a domestic final before in three previous events, University of Stirling’s Benson shocked the national circuit by claiming 100m breaststroke silver at the Olympic trials in 2012.

That saw Benson earn a spot on the Team GB squad for London, where he set a new personal best of 1:00.04 minutes in his heat before finishing 14th overall with a time of 1:00.13 in his semi-final.

Despite that being three years ago, Benson has since failed to get close to those times, however all that changed in Gwangju, South Korea, at the World University Games.

Benson swam 1:00.16 to win his 100m breaststroke semi-final – going on to claim bronze in a time of 1:00.33.

But the 21-year-old didn’t stop there, returning to the pool to pick up another bronze in the 200m equivalent, all of which leaves him dreaming big for next year’s Rio Olympics.

Benson said: “I qualified first for the 100m final after a season’s best swim in the semi-finals which I was absolutely ecstatic about and it was just off my personal best time which I did at the London Olympics. So to be down almost getting a best time again in almost three years it was such a good feeling.

“It was my first senior international medal so actually on reflection of it I was really happy. I qualified first for the 200m final again and I was just trying to progress through the rounds and put myself in the middle lanes.

“The 200m is my main event and I have been putting a lot of focus into it, especially this season, and I was happy with the personal best time and the way I swam the race was exactly how I wanted to swim it, but I was so close at the end.

“I am happy with another international medal and this is really all about the Olympic season next year so ultimately it doesn’t matter if I finish first, second or third. It is a challenge I am excited for and I think I can manage.” British Universities & College Sport (BUCS) is the governing body for higher education sport in the UK, representing 170 institutions and facilitating 52 sport programmes. BUCS sent a delegation of Great Britain’s next generation of elite athletes to the World University Games (Summer Universiade) being held in Gwangju Korea 4 – 14 July. For more information visit www.bucs.org.uk