Ross Murray says the pressure is off him now after he reached the Olympic semi final of the 1500m tonight.

The Twickenham middle distance runner ran in Heat One at the Olympic Stadium and crossed the line fourth, earning automatic qualification through to the next stage.

Murray trains at St. Mary’s University and will now race in Sunday’s semi final, progressing alongside British team-mate Andy Baddeley.

And the 21-year-old couldn’t hide his joy after the race.

He beamed: “I’m delighted with that. Nobody wants to be that guy who goes out in the heats do they? Especially when you have got everybody back home watching you.

“It was a good race and I felt good. I think I raced well, I took the gaps when I saw them and I couldn’t be happier.”

He continued: “The pressure is off now for me. It is my first Games and my first GB senior vest. I only really got back running properly in January.

“I still have expectations of myself, like I said I didn’t want to be that guy who goes out in the heat. Had I have done that I would have been disappointed in myself. But I have qualified for the semi and the pressure is totally off now.

“If I don’t qualify for the final, I won’t be disappointed with myself but at the same time, to make the final would be unbelievable so I am going to be giving it everything I’ve got.”