Dunedin sisters Nina and Lisa Daniels have spent three and a-half years based in Canada training and preparing for an opportunity to compete on the world's greatest stage.
That long-anticipated day arrives this week when they link with the rest of the New Zealand Olympic contingent in Beijing, China.
The sisters won a bronze medal at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games after an attention-grabbing free routine to Egyptian belly-dancing music.
They held hands and wept as they stepped on to the dais to collect their medals.
But as big as that day was, they say a good result at the Olympics would be a greater achievement.
"Finishing in the top 16 would be a huge achievement," Nina (26) said.
"I think it will be better than our bronze at the Commonwealth Games just because it is a bigger competition and there are some amazing swimmers there."
They are sentiments Lisa (23) shares, adding: "As long as we are happy with how we've swum I think we'll do quite well."
The pair have been training up to 35 hours a week and are in the best shape of their lives.
Most of their training is done in the pool but they also visit the gym every day.
But perfection has its price and they will be working on their routines right up until they compete on August 18.
"Basically we've got all our base training done and we've got the routine to a good point, but now we can do some fine tuning."
The technical routine will be performed to Ukrainian Dance and for the free routine the sisters have chosen a music version of Paint it Black.
Nina and Lisa said the Russian pair shapes as favourite for gold but the Chinese duo has improved quickly and will be strong contenders.
The sisters are realistic about their own medal prospects and are trying to approach the Olympics like any other tournament.
"We don't want to be over nervous or anything like that. So if we think it is just like any other meet we've been to then hopefully we'll have some really good swims," Nina said.
Being based in Canada had its advantages in terms of coaching but they were looking forward to arriving at the Olympic village and joining the New Zealand team.
"I think we've had plenty of support but we are really looking forward to being there and being part of the team," Lisa said.
"Because we are so far away it is really hard to know all the time what is happening. So we've been reading the blogs on the website to see what they are up to and see what is going on there."
The pair have been focused on the Olympics and have not given much thought to their future after the event.
Competing on the international circuit would not have been possible without support from their mother and father, Ita and Ted Daniels.
But the sisters will compete at the New Zealand nationals in September before deciding where their future lies.
"It has been a big financial strain but we've got the New Zealand nationals a month after the Games so will just see what happens from there," Nina said.
Daniels sisters
At a glance
Name: Nina Daniels (26) and Lisa Daniels (23)
Sport: Synchronised swimming
Achievements: Bronze medallists at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games
Prospects: The sisters hope to finish in the top 16.
