Tweddle handling hopes of a nation

Beth Tweddle is confident she can handle the pressure of expectation which goes with being the first British female in modern times to have a genuine chance of winning an Olympics gymnastics medal.

British hopes will focus on the 19-year-old from Cheshire in the wake of her bronze on the asymmetric bars at last year's World Championships.

But Tweddle, fine tuning her preparations in Barcelona, is taking it in her stride.

'A lot of the sport is about being mentally strong and coping with the publicity and expectation but I am okay under the pressure,' she said.

'I have probably one more Olympics in me after this, so Athens is my big aim.

'I am preparing well and feel in good form. We have been building up to this for some time now and I would like to win a medal and improve on the bronze I got last year.'

British team co-ordinator Matthew Greenwood shares Tweddle's confidence.

'Beth is very good, very strong minded and doesn't let the pressure get to her,' he said.

'She is a real medal hope having got a bronze in the worlds last year and silver at the Europeans this year.'

Meanwhile, British trampolinist Kirsten Lawton admits she will be happy with a place in the Athens final after qualifying.