Laura Stephens says she is looking forward to taking on some of the best international swimmers around when she takes part in the European Aquatics Championships today.

The Colchester Swimming Club member is hoping to record some fast times when she competes on the senior major international stage for the first time, at the iconic London Aquatics Centre.

Stephens, who is now based at Plymouth Leander, is part of the Target Tokyo group of swimmers, identified by performances at the British Championships in Glasgow last month.

They will compete alongside their senior Great Britain team-mates bound for this summer’s Rio Olympics, as they develop their experience and skills.

Stephens starts in lane one in the women’s 100 metres butterfly heat this morning, scheduled for 10.41am.

The talented 16-year-old says competing in the European Championships will stand her in good stead for the future, as she prepares to become a senior swimmer.

Stephens told the Daily Gazette: “I’m really excited to have been selected for the European Championships in London.

“It’ll be my first senior major international competition so good preparation for the future, now that I’m coming to the end of my junior swimming career.

“I’m looking forward to be able to race the best swimmers in Europe and alongside the senior British swimmers, who are headed for Rio in the summer. “There won’t be any pressure on me in terms of making a final or medalling.

“However, it will be a good place to see how I have improved from the British Championships and hopefully swim some fast times!”.

Stephens is one of a number of young British swimmers currently competing at the European Championships who have been identified as potential Tokyo 2020 Olympians.

British Swimming Head of Performance Pathway Tim Jones said: “A home European Championships represents a great opportunity to expose athletes targeting the Tokyo Olympics to high level international competition.

“We have selected 16 additional athletes for the British team who are on their development journey to Tokyo 2020 to ensure that we have our eyes on the future as well as a focus on Rio.”

Stephens competes in the 100m butterfly heats this morning, with the semi-final scheduled to take place at 6.30pm tonight.

The former Colchester County High School for Girls pupil is also in action on Saturday morning, when she takes part in the women’s 200m butterfly heats.