Tyler Butterfield is hoping to mix it with the big boys as his quest for a spot at the Olympics continues.

The Bermudian triathlete, fresh from racing in Argentina and South Africa, is scheduled to take part in the sport's World Championships in Madeira, Portugal on May 7 and 8.

Currently, the 20-year-old is down to take part in the Under-23 category but he is hoping to get the nod to move up to the Elite Division where those taking part will be the same athletes he may meet in Athens later in the year.

"I am definitely going in the Under-23 but I am trying to get enough points in the meantime to enable me to get into the Elite Race," he said from his base on Australia's Gold Coast. "There are a lot of points up for grabs, a World Championship is double the points of a World Cup event which is four times the points of a regular points race.

"I could get 20th, 25th or maybe even 30th in a world championships and get more points than winning one of the races that I have done over the last two weeks. If I happened to get a top ten finish it would be a big eye-opener for people and they may be tempted to give me a wild card (into the Olympics)."

The selection procedure for the Olympics takes place within the next couple of months and Butterfield aims to make the most of this, one of the last opportunities to make the grade.

"If I won or did well in the Under-23s, people would say 'this guy is going good' but if you do it in the Elite then you have proven yourself. They would assume I could do well if I was up there in the Under-23s, but it's not a fact," he said.

Butterfield has always been a good runner and cyclist. The part of his game that still needs work on, however, is his swim.

He has been putting in plenty of hours at the pool but has yet to nail down the solution to his problem.

"I have improved a bit but not that much," he said. "In a wetsuit swim most poor swimmers' times improve, but when I put one on I don't swim any faster. Everyone else seems to improve by about a minute, which means that instead of coming out a minute or two minutes behind (the lead group) it's more like three."

Though not certain, Butterfield believes lack of strength in his arms may be behind his relatively slow times.

"I have always stayed away from weights because I have never actually wanted to gain bulk. But, right now, I need anything I can find to help get me out of the swim quicker ? even if it slows my run down," he said. "Hopefully, over time I will be able to bring my swim up so that I come out with the first pack and then improve the run."

With the swim being the first of the three disciplines, an athlete's performance in the water can make or break his or her race and that's why it's become the focus of Butterfield's attention.

"There is no point in having a good bike and run without the swim because after 20 minutes you'll be a minute behind. You then have another hour and half to catch up," he said.

Butterfield said this flaw, if you can call it that, in his performance did not get him down and he preferred to address it scientifically rather than emotionally.

"I look at most of my training pretty scientifically," he said. "Sometimes too much so. It's a challenge. You can't be good at everything. Most people that you look at in triathlon have one discipline that lets them down and I would never wish that I was a really good swimmer and have to work on my run. In the long run, hopefully, I will get my swim (in shape) and then it will all click fairly quickly.

"That's what keeps me going. I feel once I get the swim things will come together fast."

Butterfield's potential is huge and he may realise it a lot quicker than many athletes his age.

"Most of the people down here that I train with of my age are quite patient, whereas I am not at all because of the opportunity I have," he said. "Of those my age, none of them are looking towards Madeira Elite or the Olympics because there is no possibility.

"Because there is the possibility I want to take the opportunity and try hard."