Rower Page cannot wait for China

Page won gold at the 2003 under-23 World Championships (Getty)

Hartpury's Natasha Page says she cannot wait to head to Beijing with the women's eight rowing squad.

Page, 23, travels to China alongside Gloucester club-mate Beth Rodford.

"I went home on our day off and had a meal and the penny did drop; it is really exciting and I cannot wait," Page told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

The Reading University student has represented Great Britain at junior and senior levels, taking silver at the 2007 World Cup in Linz.

Rowing crews are often dominated by athletes from the Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames, but Page is pleased that is not the case for the women's eight travelling to Beijing.

Page (l) with Gloucester team-mate Beth Rodford

"I think it's awesome when people come from different clubs. We've got quite a range and that's the way it should be."

Ahead of her first Olympics, Page paid tribute to coach John Keogh.

"He's quite straight down the line and he's got to be with 12 girls to deal with.

"It's sometimes a bit more difficult to coach because with women I think you have to be more tactful."