Scottish born, now living in Wales, Helen Tucker sprung a huge shock when becoming the world triathlon champion this year, and she will now be well on the radar for the Olympic competition.
The 24-year-old Tucker stunned the triathlon community with a superb tactical performance to win the ITU World Championship gold in Vancouver in June, and such a performance so close to the Olympics will have her confidence sky-high as she enters the water for the race in Beijing.
After the Olympic distance of a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run, Tucker had to fight out a lung-busting sprint finish to defeat American Sarah Haskins by just four seconds.
It was a triumphant tactical display and it seemingly came out of nowhere, but now as world champion Tucker will certainly be one to watch in the Olympics.
The result was a far cry from her 17th place at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, which came a year after two bronze medals in ITU World Cup events and also bronze in the European Under-23 championships.
The Star Trek fan born in Elgin, Scotland, Tucker, like many triathletes, first took to the pool as a talented swimmer, before moving to Wales and joining the Swansea High Performance Centre.
After a successful 2005, the National Championship came her way in 2006, although the year was hampered by a persistent injury problem throughout the year and most of 2007 - although she did manage a sprint win in Australia.
2008 has been a good year though for Tucker with two Pan American Cup wins in Chile and Argentina, along with one BG World Cup win in Canada.
Along with the World Championship gold, Tucker also won silver in the ITU World Cup event in Madrid and will be gunning for Olympics gold in China.
Tucker is part of a strong GB triathlon squad which also includes sparkling youngster Hollie Avil, the World and European Junior champion who became the youngest athlete to finish on the podium in her first two World Cup races.
