WINDSOR, Slough, Eton & Hounslow Athletics Club star Lawrence Clarke was so convinced that he would not qualify for the 110 metre (m) hurdle final that he told his family to only bother buying tickets for the heats.

But after shocking the world to take fourth in the final at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday evening the 22-year-old is now targeting a medal at the Rio Games in 2016.

In the English capital the sprint hurdler was not expected to progress beyond the semi-final stage ranked as he was, a lowly 25th in the world.

But a personal best of 13.31seconds in the semi-finals saw him sneak into the final as the eighth fastest qualifier.

But the WSEH hurdler was not finished yet, cheered on by a raucous home crowd he snatched fourth with his dip to the line in the final, much to his own surprise, if not his family's.

"Two years ago I told my family not to bother buying tickets to the Commonwealth Games final because I said I would not make it that far," he said.

"They did not listen and sure enough they were there when I got a bronze. So at London 2012 I said I would not get past the heats but again they didn't listen and were all in the crowd for my final.

"It really is an indescribable feeling, the crowd were just amazing and after my heat I was no longer nervous, the pressure was off to an extent and I just enjoyed myself.

"The three medallists were a long way out in front so as far as I saw it the rest of us were involved in a second race and I just dipped and won it in the end." With fourth place in Wednesday's final already under his belt, Clarke is now targeting a podium finish in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The former Eton College student declared: "To be number four in the world is just an amazing feeling and I'm so pleased. It's way beyond anything I expected and now my attention switches to Rio 2016 where I hope I'll be coming into my prime.

"You could see in that final that I was one of the smallest guys there, I have work to do on my strength and conditioning to catch up with them." Since the retirement of Colin Jackson, the 110m hurdles is an event that has been dominated in Britain by Andy Turner, the former European and current Commonwealth champion.

But after snatching second in the Olympic trials in June behind Andrew Pozzi, Clarke insisted he was grateful for his own time in the limelight.

"I do feel that I've flown a bit below the radar in terms of the British athletics so to be in the final as the sole Brit was a nice feeling," he added.

"The crowd's support was just fantastic and I loved every minute of it.

"Now I can't wait to be back in the Olympic Stadium in London for the World Championships in 2017 when I'll be going for a medal." Lloyds TSB, proud supporter of Team GB and proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Get closer to the Games at lloydstsb.com/london2012.