What it is like to be Beth Tweddle,

At the moment I am in the middle of studying for my AS level exams which is quite hard as I am also training for Commonwealth Games trails which have been taking place throughout the past month. I had my last trial yesterday but that doesn't mean that training stops.

I am studying Biology, Physics and General studies. I have my final exam on Wednesday, so I can't wait for that to be over. I will then be in full training for preparation for the games with the occasional trip to school to pick up work.

During the school year I have to take a lot of time out of school for my training, I spend at least one week every month up at the National Sports Centre in Lilleshall, Shropshire.

When major competitions are approaching I tend to live at the centre for a month or two. During this time I get sent work from school, which I do and then fax or email back.

There is the chance to live up at the National Centre full time but I turned it down so that I can stay at my school and live with my parents and stay at my home club, the City of Liverpool with my coach Amanda Kirby.

Gymnastics is a sport which takes up a lot of time. I train six days a week and usually get Sundays off depending on whether I have a competition.

I train every evening after school from 4:30 until 8:30 then make the hour journey home and start my homework. I have a lot of friends within gymnastics who know what it is like and when I find things hard I can always talk to them.

My coach is also very supportive and helps me through hard times. My friends at school are a way of getting away from my training! I get out with them when I can and they understand that I can't always go out when they want me to.