Olympics is the focus for US-based Ian

IAN POWELL'S Olympic dream lives on. Guernsey's Florida-based Commonwealth Games star and national medallist still harbours hopes of making the British team for the 2008 Beijing Games, but knows it will be tough.

'My coach tells me to try and stay focused on the Olympics,' said the 21-year-old student at the Florida State University.

His 2007 target is 'just to get my times down and get a time that's top three in Britain and see what comes from that'.

Powell, who will not be spearheading the Guernsey men's team in Rhodes, is to concentrate on the US scene next summer.

He may not even return for the UK national championships at which, in the summer, he won bronze in the 200m butterfly.

Since then the former Beau Sejour Barrucadas star has rediscovered his best backstroke form.

'I can't really explain it,' he said during a break in the island for the festive period.

'The backstroke's coming on really well again.

'At the US Open in November I pretty much set my best time unrested in the 200 back.

'The main focus is butterfly still, but I can't complain.'

Powell has now been in the United States for two-and-a-half years and is loving it.

'It's going very well. I'm settled with a great coach and a great training group,' added the marketing and real estate student.

He still has a year-and-a-half to run on the course and is undecided what to do at its end.

Swimming will, he says, remain a dominant factor for a while yet.