Colin Oates can finally train in the knowledge his place in Team GB's Rio Olympics squad is secure.

Eastern Daily Press: Sally Conway and Colin Oates during the team announcement at the British Judo Centre of Excellence, in Walsall.Sally Conway and Colin Oates during the team announcement at the British Judo Centre of Excellence, in Walsall. (Image: PA Wire)

The North Lopham 33-year-old will compete at his second Games come the summer, after making the cut for the seven-strong team hopefully of bringing home at least one medal.

Oates' career-high silver medal at April's European Championships in the Russian city of Kazan made his Olympic selection inevitable.

Now the Norfolk star, who is currently based in Scotland, can fully focus on the task ahead in Rio de Janeiro with the Games starting seven weeks today.

'Yeah, I can get excited about it now,' smiled Oates. 'I've had a good feeling for a while I'd be going because my qualifying place has always been quite high.

Eastern Daily Press: From left is Sally Conway, Natalie Powell, Alice Schlesinger, Nekoda Smythe-Davis, Ashley McKenzie and Norfolk's Colin Oates, during the Team GB announcement for the 2016 Rio Olympics, at the British Judo Centre of Excellence, in Walsall.From left is Sally Conway, Natalie Powell, Alice Schlesinger, Nekoda Smythe-Davis, Ashley McKenzie and Norfolk's Colin Oates, during the Team GB announcement for the 2016 Rio Olympics, at the British Judo Centre of Excellence, in Walsall. (Image: PA Wire)

'But it's nice now to be official and look forward to the games.

'I'd say I've had an up and down year. The start of the year wasn't the greatest and I was struggling with my judo a bit. But the European medal game me the affirmation that I can still compete at this level and in the end I was close to getting a seeding spot.'

Oates, who finished seventh in London, added: 'You always aim to win. But there is always an underlying aim I try to stick to, which is to put in the best performance I can deliver on the day. If I walk out of Rio having not won but delivered that, then I will be pleased I demonstrated what I could do.

'If it's not good enough to win a medal, then it's not meant to be – but if I get everything right on the day, I know I can deliver a medal.'

Oates is one of three GB judoka heading to Rio that competed at London 2012 and will once again take on the under-66kg class, despite contemplating a switch up in weight following his home Games.

Nekoda Smythe-Davis, Alice Schlesinger, Sally Conway, Natalie Powell, Ashley McKenzie and Benjamin Fletcher complete GB's judo squad.

Team GB have won 18 Olympic judo medals since 1964, but no golds. Gemma Gibbons and Karina Bryant won silver and bronze respectively four years ago.

The seven judoka bring Team GB's squad of athletes for Rio 2016 to 137 from 12 sports.

British Judo performance director Nigel Donohue said: 'The team have medalled and placed at European Championships, Grand Slams and Grand Prix.

'We wanted to qualify athletes who have a real chance of performing and potentially medalling. We are ready and believe every one of the team can produce their best in Rio.'

• Follow Michael Bailey on Twitter @michaeljbailey