Tiola Gleeson is looking to grab her big opportunity with both hands after winning a surprise call-up for this month's Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
The 12-year-old from Combe Down, pictured, will be part of a 120-strong Great Britain team at the event in Sydney, which starts on Wednesday.
Gleeson, a member of the City of Bath Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, is in her first year as a junior and did not expect to make the trip Down Under, despite finishing second in the individual under-12s final at the 2012 British Championships.
"I am really excited about competing at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and I can't wait to get out there now," said the Ralph Allen School pupil, who will compete in both the individual and group all- around competitions.
"It will definitely be the biggest competition I have ever competed in.
"Because I have only just become a junior I am not really expecting much in terms of results because I know it will be a big step up for me.
"But I am going to go there and try my best and just see what happens, that is all I can do.
"It was a surprise just to be selected in the first place and I was shocked to get in the squad because it was my first competition doing the junior discipline, so I was really happy."
Britain's senior rhythmic gymnastics team – featuring Gleeson's club-mates Lynne Hutchison, Francesca Fox and Jade Faulkner – finished 12th at the London 2012 Olympics and the youngster has her sights set on continuing the sport's promising run in this country with a strong showing in Australia.
"Being selected has made my 2012 a really good year and it is a great way to start 2013," she added.
Approximately 1,700 athletes from 30 countries will part in 17 different sports at the festival.
Sam Hatherley, who moved to Team Bath Buccaneers from Havant in the summer, is a member of the Great Britain hockey squad.
The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values. www.olympics.org.uk.
