PLYMOUTH Leander swimmer Grant Halsall is hoping to leave behind an injury-plagued 2011 as he turns his attention to the London 2012 Olympic trials.

Halsall's year was wrecked after a series of injuries and illness which included a broken elbow, a broken hand as well as glandular fever. Despite overcoming these setbacks Halsall is playing catch up as he aims to be in top physical condition come the time of the trials.

The 18-year-old said: "I have the first Olympic trial in March and if I get through that the final trial is around July time.

"I'm a bit of an outsider because of all the ups and downs of the last few months but not many people get the chance to compete in front of their own country at an Olympics so it would be special if I made it.

"I've just got to keep training hard through the winter season and if I don't make it I can use it as a learning experience for the 2016 Olympic trials."

In the lead-up to the Commonwealth Youth Games, Halsall took responsibility into his own hands by cutting off the cast around his arm to allow him to train easier.

The risk was worth it as the former Plymouth College student went on to win silver in both the 200 metres and 50m back-stroke races and bronze in his favoured 100m race.

The teenager told The Herald: "Touch wood it comes in three's and that's me done with injuries, It's taken a while but I am really starting to get back in to it, now it's all about training hard and being confident for the trials in March.

"Obviously it was tough but I am quite a resilient character. I was annoyed at the time but these things happen."

Halsall believes he is now in a better position physically and mentally than he was before his injuries.

He said: "In some ways having these setbacks has been a bit of a gift. It has helped me reassess everything. I am now more aware of everything, from what I eat in terms of nutrition and how I train and how I can improve my performance. I'm a stronger person than I was before the injuries."

England coach Jon Rudd is confident Halsall can be competitive in the trials but warns the 2012 Olympics may come too soon for Halsall to show his true potential.

Rudd, who is also Halsall's head coach at Plymouth Leander, said: "For London 2012 I think he has an outside chance, you have to remember he is young, there are senior swimmers in the team who will be a little bit ahead of him at the moment.

"The trials for the Olympics will be a great experience for him to use for 2016 which will be Grant's time, I am sure of that."

Rudd believes that if Halsall can overcome his injuries which have held him back in recent months he can go on to bigger and better things.

He said: "I have been fortune enough to have coached a host of talented swimmers. I am lucky because Plymouth attracts lots of great swimmers.

"I would say that Grant is in the top range of swimmers that I have coached. If he stays clear of injuries he has the world at his feet.

"He has the ability to just turn it on when it matters, he doesn't say much and is a quiet lad but he is deeply focused.

"He is one of the most talented swimmers I've had the pleasure of coaching."