London calling

Long-distance swimmer Natasha Tang Wing-yung has had her eyes set on competing at the Olympics for years. But, after thinking she had missed her chance, that dream has come true - in the place of her birth.

Natasha, 19, a Form Six student from Diocesan Girls' School, in Jordan, who won last year's women's New World Harbour Race, is Hong Kong's youngest female competitor at the London Games.

'It's great to finally qualify,' she says. 'I was born in London, so to be able to compete in my birthplace is a special feeling.'

She first tried to qualify for the Beijing Olympics at 15, in the 10km open-water race. The event, officially known as marathon swimming, made its debut at the 2008 Games, but Natasha failed to win a place.

However, her frustration inspired her to make immense improvements in her sport. She won her first major title at the third Asian Open Water Swimming Championships in Hong Kong in 2009, then claimed a bronze in the same competition, in Oman, a year later. She also won a silver medal in the women's 1,500m at the 2009 East Asian Games.

'I put my studies on hold after the 2010 Asian Games to focus on my swimming,' Natasha says. 'I train seven days a week, including gym work and morning training, at Hong Kong Sports Institute and [there are] afternoon sessions at Kowloon Park pool. The training programme of Chung Yuen - my coach over the past 14 years - is known as the toughest in Hong Kong.'

Natasha started swimming when she was five and chose to compete in breaststroke events. She says: 'I changed to long-distance and open-water swimming when I was 14. I thought it was my best chance to break through in the sport.'