LAURA STEPHENS has successfully qualified for her first Olympic final.

The Wrexham fan, who was at the STōK Cae Ras in April to see the Reds thrash Forest Green Rovers and clinch promotion to League One, opened the Wednesday evening action for Team GB with a solid lane one swim in the first of the women's 200m butterfly semi-finals, securing her that place in a maiden Olympic final.

The Loughborough Performance Centre athlete, who became women's 200m butterfly world champion in Doha earlier this year, showed good control as the leading pack in her semi-final went clear.

She held her race pace well to sit fifth for the majority of the race and clock a time that put her in contention ahead of the second semi-final, improving on her morning heat by three seconds.

The second semi-final was slower and Stephens booked lane eight for this evening's final, with team-mate Keanna MacInnes just missing out in ninth.

Stephens told British Swimming: "That was a bit of an anxious wait. I’m just so chuffed to have pulled it around from this morning.

"It was not the heat I wanted. I knew I needed to step it up tonight and it was difficult doing it from an outside lane but I’m just so happy I managed it.

"Now I’m into that Olympic final, I’m over the moon. I’m a bit teary, but I’ll get my emotions under wraps and get ready to go tomorrow night."