Rhys McClenaghan insists he is soaking up the pressure as he got his Olympic campaign off to a brilliant start on Saturday.
The Co Down gymnast booked his place in the pommel horse final with a near-perfect routine in his opening performance.
The 22-year-old earned a score of 15.266 which was joint second best on the day, and ahead of Great Britain's Olympic champion Max Whitlock.
"I stepped off from my routine and just said 'it's the Olympic Games'. It's my first time watching the Olympic Games live let alone being in it," McClenaghan said.
"It always surprises me how little pressure I put on myself when I'm in that moment of doing a routine I've always done. I surprised myself again today but I wasn't surprised that I went through that routine at all.
"My coach [Luke Carson] said it wasn't a matter of if I got through, it's how I go through and I did a good job today. It's exciting and I'm ready for this final," added the Northern Irishman, who won European and Commonwealth Games gold in 2018.
McClenaghan added: “I feel like it was a good day at the office, and I’m an Olympian, that’s a dream come true.
“We’re prepared as we can be and I feel like we can sharpen the execution a lot more for the finals and that’ll be a bigger score than I scored today.
"It’s about relying on the preparation I’ve done and to replicate what I’ve done today and do it a little better.”
The pommel horse final takes place next Sunday, August 1.
