When Lowe makes her Olympic bow on August 9, she will already have a fair amount of experience under her belt for an 18-year-old.

Lowe represented Wales at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, in Melbourne, and she has faced two high-pressure competitions already this year.

Her finest hour came at the British Championships, which doubled as the Olympic trials, where Lowe won the 200 metres butterfly and then finished second in the 100m to qualify for both events.

Lowe's success continued at the World Shortcourse Championships, in Manchester, where she won a bronze in the 100m.

The Borough of Stockton swimmer said she gave her all in the pressure cauldron of both competitions and is hoping there is more to come when she reaches the starting blocks in Beijing.

"I really did try my hardest at the trials and the worlds but I have done a bit more training since then so hopefully there will be a bit more in the tank," said Lowe.

"The trials were the worst competition ever. Obviously it was good with the result but with being scared and the pressure it was awful.

"Everyone was going through a stressful time and feeling the pressure, but maybe I handled it a bit better and thankfully I got through."

Lowe is hoping to learn from her swim in the 200m butterfly at the shortcourse championships.

She was well ahead of the field for 150m of the race and was even threatening to set a new world record.

But Lowe tired in the final 50m and eventually finished out of the medals in fourth.

She said: "It was weird that swim because about two weeks later, I did the same thing again and I felt awful because I had some time out and stuff.

"But I did a faster time and one which would have actually won there (at the shortcourse championships).

"The back end wasn't right but I have put a lot of work in now. It was a good learning point and hopefully that will put me in good stead."