TRAMPOLINIST Josh Newman has set his sights on reaching the individual final at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival on Saturday — but he knows it will not be easy.

The 14-year-old from Noak Bridge will be up against the best teenagers in the world at Sydney’s State Sports Centre. But he is aiming to make the eight-competitor final despite being one of the younger entrants.

“Going to Australia to compete is daunting and this is definitely the biggest event that I have competed in,” said Josh, who is a pupil at Billericay School.

“It will be the hardest one too because I’m usually competing against people up to 15 years old, but in this people will be up to 17 years old and they will be a lot stronger than me.

“There are 14 of us competing in the individual event and my aim is to get to the final.”

Brentwood Trampolining Club member Josh was one of two boys who made the qualifying criteria. The other is his synchro partner Harry Newbold-Cozens.

Josh admitted it is harder to gauge how they will perform in the synchro event, which follows the individual on Saturday afternoon, because the competition is more hit and miss. The pair will be joined by Megan Pettit and Izzy Seng-hurst in the GB trampolining team.

They will be competing in the same venue where trampolining made its Olympic debut at the Sydney Games.

And Josh admits that will create a buzz for the gymnasts.

“Everyone will be thinking this is where the best in the world competed at the Olympics, which will make it even more full on,” he added.

“I can’t wait to compete, but I’m not looking forward to the jet lag.”

The teenager has made a few changes to his individual competition routine in the past few weeks and his honing them in training.

Josh and the team were at the opening ceremony yesterday morning and are training in 40-degree heat in Sydney.

The Australian Youth Olympic festival is part of the legacy of the 2000 Games and is held biennially.

The aim to give potential Olympians of the future a taste of the atmosphere surrounding the Olympics.

This year’s event ends on Sunday and features 1,700 athletes from 30 countries.