It is unlikely that Great Britain will be bringing home a medal in synchronised swimming from Beijing but the fact that Team GB will be represented in the sport at all is a big achievement.

Teenagers Jenna Randall (19) and Olivia Allison (18) have made the cut to become the first British representatives in the sport since Barcelona in 1992.

The girls hope that the experience they gain in China will play a key role in their development into genuine medal contenders by the time London 2012 comes around.

"Obviously in our routine we have corrections that we have to fix so, at the Beijing Olympics, we are just looking for a clean performance," said Randall at the launch of Team GBs new website (www.teamgb.com).

"We will try and get the highest marks we can and bump up our rankings, but definitely come 2012 we want to be competing for medals."

Allison agrees with her partner that the bigger picture goes well beyond this summer's Games.

"Obviously we want to do our best swim, we want to move up the rankings, I think our aim is to come in the top 16 (in Beijing)," she said.

"But everything is basically a stepping stone to 2012 and beyond that - that's our main aim."

Certainly the girls are putting in the work to prepare for the Games, with their training regimes stretching to seven hours a day.

They spend five hours in the pool and two in the gym, working on everything from flexibility training, cardio work, speed swimming, and then the technical side of their routines.

Randall explains that such preparation work is necessary given all the different aspects that go into the sport.

"We say that synchronised swimming is like running an 800 or 1200m race while holding your breath and smiling at the same time; and whilst also moving your arms and trying to make it look effortless and easy to the audience watching.

"It is an extremely hard sport and you have to be really fit to do it to the great standard you see on the TV."

Not only do the girls have to be sportswomen but they also have be actors if they are to find favour with the judges.

"It is very much like ballet - it is a performance," explains Randall.

"We are trying to portray a story or theme to the judges and to the audience. We are trying to connect with the judges so you are always trying to show your emotions."

The girls finished 20th at last year's World Championships but are improving all the time and could well surprise a few people in Beijing.

Then when London 2012 comes around, who knows what could happen?

Seán Fay / Eurosport