Bermuda's top Ironman triathlete Tyler Butterfield has secured sponsorship that will see him through to the 2012 London Olympics.

The 27-year-old, who made history as the youngest Olympic triathlete when he competed in Athens in 2004, has been given the perfect opportunity to concentrate on the next Games.

It is thanks to an extended sponsorship deal with Bermuda's Tokio Millennium Re and one of its associated companies Philadelphia Consolidated.

"I've been given the best chance that I can have to make the Olympics," said a delighted Butterfield, from his current base in Colorado.

"Without them I would not be able to even think about going to London."

Butterfield's forte is his endurance, and he is better suited to the longer races, such as the half-Ironman and full Ironman (an event that features a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run).

The Olympic triathlon distance is much shorter, and it can be hard for an athlete competing at that speciality to earn a living compared to the greater rewards available in the longer events.

By securing a multi-year deal that covers Butterfield all the way to the Games in the summer of 2012, he is now able to focus fully on his training.

And he sees a further beneficial spin-off from having people on the outside showing and interest in how he is doing.

"This support takes the pressure off me, but it also motivates me because I now want to do well for them. It makes it more enjoyable when you win because you are winning for yourself and for your sponsors," he explained.

"So it's not just the financial support, it is the mental support. When you are out on your own and doing well that's fine, but you wonder does anyone else really care? Now I know there are always people there who want me to do well."

This year is already shaping up to be a landmark one for Butterfield, as he has qualified for the Hawaii Ironman World Championships in October after taking fourth place in the Cozumel Ironman in Mexico late last year.

"The Hawaii race is definitely one that can make your career if you finish in the top ten.

"I'm stronger and fitter than last year and I've not started to do the specifics yet, it is just base training."

Butterfield will enter his first triathlon of the year in Mexico next month, competing at the Olympic distances before moving up to the half-Ironman in a US pro event in Texas in April.

Tokio Millennium Re has provided support and backing to Butterfield for a number of years. However, the new deal is the best he has had in his entire professional career – which has included international level cycling as well as triathlons.

"They (Tokio and Philadelphia Consolidated) are enabling me to be a professional athlete for the next three years. They have promised me bonuses if I do well, such as podium finishes in the half-Ironmans and Ironmans," said Butterfield.

"The Olympics is a big thing and it takes a three-year commitment."

Butterfield feels the London Games will see him potentially at his peak as an athlete, citing the widely held belief that endurance athletes reach are physically strongest between the ages of 25 and 35.

Doing well at the Olympics, where the race involves a 1.5K swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run, will pose a number of challenges for Butterfield.

"It is a swimmer-runner's race at the Olympics. I need to improve on the swim. I'm confident I can run and bike with the others and I don't need to be the greatest swimmer, but I do need to be able to hold my own and at the moment I'm not, I'm hanging off the back."

Unlike many other events, in the Olympic triathlon it is legal to 'draft' in the cycle race – a technique where a cluster of cyclists ride together to reduce air resistance. Being a slower swimmer therefore leaves an athlete at a disadvantage as they have to work hard to try and catch faster competitors who are already up ahead and racing in mutually beneficial cycle clusters.

It is an exciting time for Butterfield, and he is grateful to Tokio Millennium for their continued support, which will have totalled four years by the time the 2012 Olympics arrives. He is taking tips and advice from Tokio's Peter Mills, himself an experienced triathlete, and one of a number of staff at the company who compete in triathlons and other endurance events.

Even the man at the top, Tokio Millennium Re's CEO Tatsuhiko Hoshina has competed in triathlons and road races, giving him an insight into the level of commitment that Butterfield needs simply to compete in the gruelling event.

Hoshina said: "We established the company in Bermuda in 2000 and we want to give something back to Bermuda.

"We have always donated to kids and promoted fitness. Our company culture has health and wellbeing to the forefront."

Hoshina, who intends to run in the upcoming Tokyo Marathon, said: "Tyler is a real role model for kids. He is very modest and puts his head down and gets on with what he is doing, and the next generation can follow in his footsteps, whatever the sport – not necessarily the triathlon.

"What he does takes commitment and we want to follow through with Tyler."