Hours before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Dartford sprinter Adam Gemili has admitted his life still feels "like a dream."

Just two months ago it was only hardcore athletics fans and non-league football buffs who knew the 18-year-old’s name.

However after a breakthrough performance at a meeting in Regensburg, Germany, at the start of June, Gemili has become the hottest property in UK athletics.

His 10.08secs time for the 100m catapulted him to the status of Britain’s fastest man and the second quickest in Europe this year.

Since then he has gone from strength-to-strength, taking second spot in the British Olympic trials behind Dwain Chambers last month and then setting a new personal best of 10.05 on his way to claiming the World Junior Championship title in Barcelona two weeks ago.

Gemili (pictured) said: "It feels like a dream and I am pinching myself to wake up. Things have happened so quickly.

"I have progressed through the sport so quickly and made the Olympic team. I’m over the moon and ecstatic with it. I’m just trying to enjoy it."

Gemili only dedicated himself to athletics full-time at the turn of the year, having begun last season playing football on loan at Blue Square Bet South side Thurrock from Dagenham & Redbridge, where he was a member of the academy.

However, on Sunday, he was at the Team GB base at Loughborough University and collected his Team GB kit for the Olympics, a moment which he said made it feel all the more real.

He said: "It feels amazing. The whole experience, getting the kit and looking through it – the kit is just amazing.

"Just wearing it and trying it on, it makes the whole thing seem real – I’m going to the Olympics."

The former Wentworth Primary School and Dartford Grammar School pupil has received worldwide acclaim for his performances to date but he said his ambition is just to be competitive if he gets the chance to run against the likes of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake in London.

He said: "Just to line up against them I would feel so privileged. I am just going to try to enjoy it, try not to be left behind them too much, try to run quick and do myself proud.

"It’ll just be good to get good experience – I am only 18, so hopefully I’ve still got a bit more time in the sport."