There are no big celebrations for former Mount Maunganui swimmer Penelope Marshall's birthday today. Instead it is all about the Olympics.

After months of intensive training Penelope, 23 - today, is not letting her birthday distract her from her first games trial today. It is just part of her commitment to give the competition her best.

Mount Maunganui swimmer Penelope Marshall (right) celebrates making the Olympic qualifying time with relay team members (from left) Amaka Gessler and Tash Hind. Photo by Photosport.

'My birthday was at the world championships last year and it was just like any other day, so this year will be similar.”

Penelope arrived in Europe in mid-July for final games preparations – fulfilling a life-long dream to swim against the world's best since taking to the pool as a child.

The former Tauranga Girls' College student is focussed on setting new personal bests and making the finals in her races before leaving for a final training camp in Belgium.

Penelope is a member of the five-person squad to compete in the 4x200m freestyle relay and will also compete in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Two years ago at the Delhi Commonwealth Games her relay team won silver (200m) and bronze (100m).

'It is feeling pretty exciting to experience this part of my life that I have been working towards for many years.”

Penelope, now based in Auckland, told Sun Live recently that she was looking forward to experiencing the hype of the event but knew it will be a challenge to balance the excitement with controlling nerves for her races during the first week.

'Everything has been going perfect so far. I just hope it all continues to be great.”

Recent successes include winning the 100m freestyle and backstroke titles at the national swimming championships in April.

Penelope recently got back from 18 days training in Australia with the 16-member team, which included a series of relay races against team members after the Australian Grand Prix event was cancelled due to whooping cough.

'Our coaches decided to try and make the best of a bad situation.”

With three tough training sessions a day, and her only one day off dedicated to sitting a university exam, she says it was very hard and tiring but good preparation for London.

'It went really well. I did some of my best training sets ever done in camp situations.”

Her parents Shane and Dawn will be supporting her and helping celebrate her birthday after the relay event finals.