We've got a strong women's squad and we've been training really well Shavahn Church

Britain's Olympic record in women's gymnastics makes grim reading.

Beth Tweddle came close in Athens, but the fact is that no woman from these shores has ever medalled at the Games.

The signs are, though, that with Beijing on the horizon, Britain's women may finally be getting their act together.

Tweddle, Shavahn Church and Imogen Cairns set a new standard for the women's team by qualifying for Friday's finals at the World Championships in Melbourne.

Russia, Romania, China and the USA are traditionally the world's strongest nations, and Britain's hopes have been boosted by the addition of Church, an American, to the ranks.

Church was born in California in 1989 but qualifies for the team by virtue of both her parents being British.

This week's World Championships will be her first outing in her adopted colours, and she told BBC Sport she is relishing the challenge.

"We're all very excited about competing here and I think we're going to do pretty well in Melbourne," she said.

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"We've got a strong women's squad and we've been training really well since we've arrived.

"It's the biggest tournament I've ever been in, and I'm very nervous, but I think I can make the final in the bars."

Church is joined by Tweddle, Cairns and Rhian Pugh in the women's team.

Cairns won bronze on the floor and vault in last month's Glasgow Grand Prix, and was tipped to make the final this week.

Pugh makes her senior debut and arrives with a rich seam of success behind her, having won gold on the bars in this year's Northern European Championships.

Church's favoured discipline is the bars - "I just like the feeling of flying" - but for now she is content to savour the experience of representing her country in Australia.

"I always had a feeling I'd like to represent Britain, and I finally made my mind up last year," she said.

Gymnastics: Get involved Check out Beth Tweddle's guide

"When I was seven I saw some kids bouncing on a trampoline and told my mum I wanted to do that - now I've made it here it's amazing.

"I get very nervous before I compete, but once you're on the bars that all disappears."

Church still lives in the Golden State, and once Melbourne is finished will turn her eyes across the Pacific towards Beijing.

Her coach Don Peters knows all about competing at the highest level - he was in charge of the USA's Olympic women's team in 1984 - and backs Church to reach the top.

The Olympics are a long way off, and in between now and then the 16-year-old will need to put in a lot of hard work - both in the gym and on perfecting her English accent.