Whitlam steps 'into the unknown'

Whitlam only linked up with partner Louisa Reeve in May

Warrington rower Olivia Whitlam says she is in good form but is heading into the unknown at the Beijing Olympics.

The 22-year-old will compete in the Women's pair in China with rowing partner Louisa Reeve, from London.

"On a personal level I'd say I'm in pretty good nick," Whitlam told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"Louisa and I are both very new to rowing together, in that way we're an unknown to other countries but it would be really nice to be settled."

Whitlam and 24-year-old Reeve were only brought together as a partnership in May.

They impressed in the Lucerne World Cup Regatta at the end of that month and were entered in the Olympic qualification regatta in Poland last month, where they sealed their Olympic place.

Whitlam added that making the final in Beijing would be a great achievement.

"We want to get the absolute most out of ourselves as you don't want to come back and think we could have done better.

"Obviously you want to make the final but it will be hard. We don't really know where we rank yet so it's really hard to predict where we will come."