Steadman says she couldn't be more motivated after watching a superb British performance in Beijing, including Eye teenager Louis Smith earning a bronze medal in the pommel horse.

She said: "I watched the Olympics nearly every day and it has made me so excited. Watching all the athletes achieve personal bests and medals was extremely motivating."

Steadman is currently ranked fifth in the world for the 50m freestyle, which is the event where she has the best chance of picking up a medal in Beijing.

She added: "I am not sure whether or not the four ranked above me will be competing, I'll have to wait and see. But not being ranked in the top three doesn't take the pressure off me. I think the pressure is equal because knowing you are so close - not even three tenths of a second behind them - shows you still have just as good a chance of medalling if all goes well. But the fact I am not ranked in the top three does make me more determined to get on the podium."

At the start of the year, Steadman was thinking more in terms of making the 2012 London Paralympics than this year's event in Beijing, but she has improved remarkably and is now hoping to emulate Smith - who also thought his chance on the world's biggest stage would have to wait for four years.

She admits: "At the beginning of this year, I was focused mainly on London 2012. I never imagined I would be competing in Beijing. But at the back of my mind I knew that if I swam a lifetime best at the trials for Beijing I might get selected, and I did.

"The progress I have made so far this year has been a surprise, but a good surprise. It's been unbelievable."

A big factor in the improvement the Huntingdon Piranhas member has made is down to the hard training she has been doing at the renowned Kelly College in Devon, where she has a scholarship.

She said: "Since my selection, the training has gone from hard to extremely hard but it has been good and has gone really well. I have no expectations of myself in Beijing , I just want to enjoy it all. But I would like to make it into a final. If I got a medal it would be a great bonus.

"Beijing will hopefully be a great experience ready for London 2012."

Steadman will compete in the 100m freestyle on September 8, the 400m freestyle on September 12 and the 50m freestyle on September 14.