A FEW months ago South Zeal sporting twins Laura and Sarah Gomersall had never entered a modern triathlon event — now they are just a week away from representing their country in the International Championships in Athens.

The girls,15, who are students at Okehampton College, fly to Greece on December 14 and will be staying and competing at the Olympic Camp which is being prepared for the 2004 Olympics.

This will be Laura's second international event, having represented Great Britain in the European Championships in August. Sarah was team reserve.

The twins' switch to triathlon, involving shooting, swimming and running, began in the summer when foot and mouth restrictions forced the stoppage of pony club competitions in which they take part as members of the Mid Devon Pony Club tetrathlon team.

Just like Kate Allenby from Tavistock, who won a bronze medal in the modern pentathlon — which also includes fencing and riding — at the Sydney Olympics last year, Sarah and Laura's path to success stemmed from their pony club roots.

Their first competition in triathlon in Dorset in June saw the girls come first and second which led them to national trials where they achieved similar success. Next it was Europe and now the world!

Their mother, Maggie, said it had been like a whirlwind: 'It has all happened so quickly — a month after the nationals they were asked to go to the Great Britain trials.

'There was no pressure on them because they were so new to the event, but their success has been extraordinary. We did not know these competitions even existed.'

Mrs Gomersall said the chance to go to Athens was a tremendous opportunity and the competitors would be testing out some of the Olympic facilities. Teams from 32 countries will contest the triathlon championships.

'It's wonderful for them and they are both as good as each other which helps — they get a lot of support from each other,' she said.

Although their rise to success has happened very quickly Mrs Gomersall said the girls had put in a huge amount of hard work.

'It is their GCSE year but luckily they are getting their mock exams out of the way before they go to Athens,' she said. 'Their selection for Great Britain is a reward for all the effort and determination they have put in this year.'

Sarah and Laura swim with Okehampton Otters and are members of Okehampton Shooting Club and Exeter Harriers.

Their aim is to follow in the footsteps of Kate Allenby at the 2008 Olympics.

Mrs Gomersall expressed thanks to all the support from organisations and individuals in Okehampton who are helping the twins to achieve their goal.