I would say that most people have heard about the Olympics and most people have aspirations to represent their country in the games that happen every four years. The Olympic Games is a multisport event divided into a summer and winter games. The two games were held on the same year and it wasn't until 1992 that it was decided that they would host them two years apart.

The first Olympic Games that were recorded were held in 776BC in Olympia Greece. The Olympics have changed greatly during the years that they have been held. New sports are added and some of the original sports included during the first Games are no longer present.

What many people do not know is that every year the Olympic association from the hosting country puts on a youth camp. The youth camp was founded by Pierre de Coubertin, who had a vision of a global educational movement that would transcend barriers of race, political systems and beliefs; a movement uniting the youth of the world in friendship, solidarity and peace.

Two youths from each country are selected by their countries. The two young hopefuls will travel to Beijing, China, where they will participate in activities with 400 other youths with the same aspirations to get to the Olympics, just like Bermuda's youths.

Eleanor Gardner is one of the two youths going to Beijing for the youth camp. She has been swimming in the Harbour Amateur Swim Club (HASC) since she was six and is a member of the Bermuda National Swim Team and is a very dedicated swimmer.

She believes that swimming will take her places that no other sport that she has done will take her. "She is probably the only swimmer that actually loves swimming," says Lara Loescher, a swimmer from HASC.

Her aspirations and drive to be the best in her sport have helped her to achieve the things that she has achieved.

She is the fourth female to break a minute in 100m freestyle. Eleanor says: "It is very exciting and I'm looking forward to meeting the athletes and experiencing a new culture."

This comment doesn't only show that Eleanor is keen to meet new people and learn new skills to better her sporting experiences but that she cares that she will be exposed to different cultures that she can learn from in order to better her education and her life.

Eleanor has competed in eight national meets. She won a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle (13-14) in 2006 Carifta, and three silver medals in the 4x50m freestyle and medley relays and 4x100m freestyle relay in the 2007 Small Island Games. She also has many records in her past age groups.

All the swimmers on the Bermuda national swim team agree with the two coaches that Eleanor deserves this experience and we all agreed with the national coach Richard Goodwin when he said: "Eleanor will be a great ambassador to Bermuda and the swimming community; she has achieved a lot academically and physically during the years and I can't think of another person who deserves this more than she does."