After eight years of dedicated training, Dunedin rhythmic gymnast Caitlin McKinlay will make her international debut in July.
McKinlay (13), a year 9 pupil at Queen's High School, is a member of the New Zealand team that will contest the Australian championships in Sydney from July 6 to 12.
It is the first time McKinlay has been selected to represent her country.
''I was excited and proud,'' she said.
''I've been waiting so long to get into the New Zealand team.''
It will be a new experience for McKinlay, against unknown opposition.
''I will just have to try my best and see how things go on the day,'' she said.
''I'm a little nervous but excited as well. I can't wait to compete over there. It will be an amazing experience.''
McKinlay knows the nerves will twitch a bit more than usual.
''I usually get nervous before a competition but as I get into my routine the nerves disappear.''
Her long-term goal is to keep doing her best up to the highest level.
''I want to stick with it and not give up,'' she said.
McKinlay is coached by former Romanian international Luciana Blaga and has been inspired by the Eastern European gymnasts.
''There are some amazing Russian gymnasts that I look up to. They train very hard and their coaches push them a lot,'' McKinlay said.
Her favourite is Evgenia Kanaeva, who was a gold medallist at the last two Olympic Games and has won four world titles as well.
McKinlay started gymnastics at the age of 5.
''I wanted to try a sport and it was offered at our school,'' she said.
''Gymnastics is a real challenge and I have to push myself to succeed.''
Her coach is pleased with McKinlay's work ethic.
''Caitlin has great potential because she is a hard-working and disciplined gymnast,'' Blaga said.
''It was a great achievement to be picked in the team.''
McKinlay won her first gold medal in the ball at last year's New Zealand championships in Dunedin but her coach believes the hoop is her best discipline at the moment.
McKinlay has worked hard on her fitness and it started when she was a member of her school walking bus that trudged up steep hills in Roslyn with Linda Robertson, who took her photo for the Otago Daily Times this week.
''Pacific St is a very big hill to walk up and it was hard every morning,'' McKinlay said.
