With anticipation having built across the country as the long seven year wait for London 2012 drew to a close this week, some of Sussex’s fiercest and most talented competitors are chomping at the bit to now take the capital by storm this summer, with the hopes and wishes of a nation resting on their shoulders.

London has become the first city to have hosted the games three times, as the UK looks to round off the summer season’s gripping and contagious enthusiasm, with the Olympic games coming hot on the heels of the Queen’s jubilee celebrations and of course, the European Football Championships.

An estimated 10,500 athletes from 154 countries are scheduled to compete in London this year, with our corner of the UK expected to play a major part in ensuring that Team GB weighs in with a heavy dose of bronze, silver and gold once things wrap-up on 17th August.

Sussex is in line to contribute athletes to Team GB that will be gunning for medals in an open range of disciplines including sailing, judo and badminton.

For London 2012, Team GB are fielding a Water Polo side at Olympic level for the first time since the Melbourne Games of 1956. Central to our hopes of success in this field is Jack Waller, a 22 year old star coming out of Battle.

Jack’s already made an early impression at London 2012, striking late in Team GB’s opening game against Romania in a tie that unfortunately ended in a 13-4 defeat. Nevertheless, it was an encouraging display from GB and Waller, who will still fancy their chances of progression from the group.

Waller first started playing Water Polo aged only 11, and after developing his talent made his senior international debut in 2007. The centre-forward has played his trade across Europe in the early stages of his career, starring in Germany in 2011 and currently residing in Spain, playing for CN Sant Andreu.

While the blistering heat of Spain may be a far cry from his East Sussex hometown, there’s no doubt that Jack Waller will be the pride of Battle should his Water Polo side progress to the latter stages of London 2012.

Catch Jack in action tonight from 18.20 on BBC.