Jefferis closer to his dream

JOSH Jefferis is on the cusp of completing one of the most remarkable comebacks in Australian gymnastics history.

Three months ago the former Westlake resident was destined to never achieve his lifelong goal of representing Australia at the Olympics.

But an injury to all-around gymnast Sam Offord in January and some exceptional performances overseas the past few weeks has the 25-year-old in pole position to claim a place in the men's gymnastics competition at the London Games.

"I was down and out a couple of months ago," Jefferis admitted.

"I was a reserve for the Olympic test event and there was no way I could qualify for the Olympic Games.

"But then Sam (Offord) injured himself three days before the comp and I got selected to compete and finished as the top Australian."

Jefferis, who is locked in a two-way battle with good friend Thomas Pichler for the single male spot, gave his Olympic hopes a massive boost after he produced the goods at two international events last month.

At the Pacific Rim Championships, held near Seattle, Jefferis finished overall fifth and was the only Australian senior competitor to win a medal after finishing third in rings.

A week later the Y-West Gymnastics member placed overall second at the Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics Festival in Calgary, Canada, after triumphing in the rings and parallel bars.

But while the strong results put him as the best-placed Australian male, Jefferis clearly does not want to get ahead of himself.

"I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch," he said.