FORMER Colchester Swimming Club member Laura Stephens has powered into the 200 metres butterfly semi-finals, at the Tokyo Olympics.

The 22-year-old finished third in her heat, clocking a time of two minutes and nine seconds.

China's Zhang Yufei won in 2m 7.50s and Boglárka Kapás, from Hungary, was second, in 2m 8,58s.

The semi-finals, both in the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, are due to take place tomorrow, at 10.57am and 11.04am.

The final is then scheduled for 11.28am on Thursday.

Speaking shortly before flying out to Tokyo, Stephens, from Wix, said it was a 'real honour' to represent Team GB.

She was part of the British cohort that enjoyed a record performance at the recent European Aquatics Championships.

The Plymouth Leander swimmer helped Britain to a stunning women's 4x100m medley relay victory and championship record on the final night of action.

Butterfly specialist Stephens followed up that success by producing brilliant displays in the 200m butterfly at the British Swimming Glasgow Meet - the final Olympic consideration meet before the Games.

After smashing her personal best by more than half-a-second in the heats, she again dipped under the Tokyo consideration mark on the way to winning the final, helping to secure her that ticket to the Olympics.