SALISBURY-based weightlifter Karl Grant's Olympic 2004 dream took a giant step closer to becoming a reality when he triumphed at the UK National Champion-ships at the weekend.

The Hanging Langford-based sportsman now heads to the Ukraine in April for the European Championships as the top-ranked British competitor and knows another show of strength there should guarantee him a trip to Athens this summer.

Competing at the Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre in Birmingham, the 33-year-old health club owner produced a personal best snatch of 157kg - just 3kg off the British record - before his 190kg clean and jerk secured a total of 347kg - almost 40kg ahead of second placed Tommy Euell of Scotland.

Grant says he is now confident of claiming the British record in the Ukraine and with it, his invite to the Olympics.

A Commonwealth Games medallist at Manchester in 2002, the weightlifter is in top shape, but admits time is running out for him in the sport and Athens represents his best chance of fulfilling his Olympic dream.

The father of two added: "At 33 I'm one of the oldest competing. I didn't take up the sport until I was 20 which probably accounts for me lasting so long. I normally compete in the 105kg class, but I seriously dieted over Christmas and lost some weight so I could drop to the 94kg for the British which worked out well."