With the 2016 Olympics starting on Friday, only time will tell if Team GB can build on London four years ago. Dani Walker caught up with the youngest member of the squad to talk about her hopes and dreams

IT is just days before 16-year-old gymnast Amy Tinkler competes in the biggest competition of her life, but if she is nervous it certainly does not show.

Everywhere you turn at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, where she trains more than 30 hours a week, there are good luck messages and posters of the talented teenager.

But as she records a piece for her 5,000-strong army of Twitter followers inside the pink gym of South Durham Gymnastics Club, it is hard to believe there are just days until the competition starts in Rio de Janeiro.

When The Northern Echo caught up with her last week it was her only day-off in between intensive training sessions at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre, in Shropshire, where she has been training with the rest of the Great Britain gymnastics squad, and her last chance to see her friends.

The Durham High School student, who is the youngest member of the whole of the Great Britain team, thrives on the pressure of the big competitions and having tasted success on the big stage with a team bronze at the World last year she is ready to handle more of the same.

“The atmosphere is going to be incredible,” said Amy, who has been doing gymnastics since she was just two-years-old. “I am just going to treat it like any other competition. I just love competing and the crowd is going to be huge.”

Amy will be joined by Becky Downie, Ellie Downie, Claudia Fragapane and Ruby Harrold to compete in the team competition.

The girls first have to qualify as one of the top eight nations for a chance to battle it out for a team medal and these results will also decide who will complete in the individual all-round final and individual apparatus finals.

Despite the team’s recent success and Amy’s undoubted confidence in their ability, the Bishop Auckland teenager says it is important to take things one step at a time.

“It has been going really well,” she said. “Our aim is to qualify in the top eight and then see what happens. Never say never, we got the team bronze last year. So we just have think like that.

“There are some really strong teams so I don’t really know to be honest but I know we have the best team we could have had.”

Amy reluctantly missed the recent European Championships due to her GCSE exams but her fourth place in the British Championships helped her secure a place on the team.

“At the time I was told I was in the team there were no words to describe it, it was just incredible. I am so excited and really looking forward to it.

“Being the youngest member of Team GB is really cool.

“I have made a few upgrades to my routines but I have mainly been perfecting them from the British Championships. I made a few mistakes and ended up coming fourth.

“Just going to the Olympics is amazing.”

Whatever happens in Rio next month, everyone at the club will be proud of her and whether she realises it or not Amy is already inspiring the next generation of gymnasts.

Coach Nicola Preston, who trains Amy alongside Rachael Wright, said Amy’s determination to achieve and love of the sport has got her to where she is.

“Amy is amazing,” she said proudly. “We have never set out to get her to the Olympics. Our aim with everyone at the club is to help them achieve what they can.

“She loves the sport and all the pieces of the jigsaw have come together for her. Everyone has been so supportive, especially Durham High School. There has never been any pressure.

“She is special and very down to earth. She is ready to go to the Olympics now. It has been tough and we will be pleased when all the training is done and she is on the plane. She has taken it in her stride and our job here is done.”

• Amy’s Olympic journey will begin with the team qualification on Sunday, August 7