SWIMMING sensation Megan Bowen is in with a chance of fulfilling every sportsperson's lifetime dream – a spot at next year's Olympics when she would be just 14!

The 13-year-old prodigy from Ivybridge has received confirmation she has already achieved the qualifying times for three events at next March's Olympic qualification event for British swimmers in the London 2012 pool.

But Bowen's proud mother Sandy was anxious to stress that Olympic qualification was not her daughter's main priority.

She said the Dinnaton Swimming Club star is merely looking forward to rubbing shoulders with top swimmers from both Britain and other countries – and experiencing the buzz and pressure of a high-level competition.

It is believed Bowen is the second swimmer from the South Hams, the other being 18-year-old Aaron Rickhuss, from Kingsbridge, to seal her place at the Olympic trials.

Mrs Bowen said: 'Megan has already got the qualifying times for the 100m, 400m and 800m freestyle and is just outside the 200m freestyle time by a fraction of a second. She has up until February 2012 to enter, and so is aiming to improve on all her times significantly in the coming months.

'It will be an incredible experience for her and no doubt somewhat overwhelming. Megan was absolutely thrilled when the times were released to find that she already had three in the bag and was only just outside the 200 time and it gave her a real boost.

'Having settled back into the day job of hard slog of daily training etc, it was perfect timing to inject some renewed enthusiasm and boost her morale.

'She knows, however, that it's a long hard six months ahead and she needs to up her game further and cannot afford to take it easy. At her age, it is harder to keep knocking the seconds off your pbs, but that's what she's got to do.'

Mrs Bowen is keen that the youngster, who attends Ivybridge Community College, does not become over-burdened with pressure and expectation, though, stressing: 'She will be 14 for the competition, so it really isn't about the Olympic qualifying for her, more about competing at that level in a world-class facility and improving her times etc. Her focus is more on the Commonwealths in 2014 – and that's still a big ask as she'll only be 16.'

But Mrs Bowen also fears she might miss out on seeing her daughter's Olympic quest due to the massive popularity of the event, which has caused ticket-selling chaos.

She explained: 'British Swimming had to suspend ticket-selling on the day it opened to those pre-registered as the ticket-sellers' system crashed due to the unprecedented demand.

'That was totally frustrating for me as I was trying to book tickets for myself so I can see Megan's heats etc – but, despite pre-registering, I couldn't get through. They have had to postpone all sales until the system has undergone thorough checks and testing to ensure it will cope.

'They have publicised this heavily to the public who missed out on Olympic tickets, so it is going to be hard to get tickets for this – fingers crossed I won't have to sit outside while Megan swims.'

Mrs Bowen said the frenzied scramble for tickets had had a telling impact on the teenager.

She said: 'The enormity of it (the event) really hit home for Megan and she's now experiencing that total excitement of the prospect mixed with the fear and nervous factor, too. This is a huge deal for her. Mind you, her coach Alan Rooker always manages to keep her very grounded by keeping her focused on the job in hand and that's pushing out the miles in the pool week after week.'

Bowen has certainly enjoyed what can be described as a 'meteoric rise' in the sport.

Just over two years after she started taking swimming seriously, her significant waves in the pool resulted in her celebrating selection to the England Talent Development Squad in August.

This will mean she will take part in various training camps at home and abroad over the coming months, with the ultimate prize being selection for the national swimming team.

Sandy said: 'She attended the first England development camp up in Coventry back in September, which was a great experience for her. It was quite intimidating at first, I think, as she was the youngest there.

'She underwent all manner of health-screening tests, including cardiac testing, such as an ECG with a senior cardiac specialist, as well as blood screening. Everything went well and she was given a clean bill of health. She gained a lot from the filmed swim sessions and the coaching. Her next camp is for a week at Millfield School in Somerset with the squad in January when I believe there will be more focus on the pool training etc.'

The Dinnaton Swimming Club swimmer was chosen for the development squad following her three age-group gold medals at the national championships held at Ponds Forge in Sheffield in July. The teenager recorded victories in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, and also secured an unexpected silver in the 100m.

Bowen said: 'I would be so happy if I was picked to represent England in a competition; it would prove that the hard training is worth it. My goal at the moment is to make the next Commonwealth Games in 2014 and my ultimate ambition is to make the Olympics.

'I look up to Rebecca Adlington as she is a distance swimmer and because of her amazing achievements.'

Bowen started swimming lessons at Dinnaton when she was just 10.

She was first coached by John Wright, the Dinnaton head coach before Alan Rooker arrived, who spotted Bowen's potential and urged her to increase her training hours.

Bowen is part of Ivybridge Community College's swimming academy, which gives talented swimmers at the school the chance to train as much as possible alongside their normal academic studies.

Last year, she won bronze medals in the 1,500m and 800m freestyle in her first-ever national competition at Sheffield.

She also qualified for eight different disciplines, reaching the finals of the 200m freestyle.

The youngster can count herself fortunate that she is coached by Alan Rooker, who in the past has helped double Olympic gold medallist Adlington with her land-based training.

Speaking to South Hams Newspapers recently, Rooker was full of praise for his protégé, the first Dinnaton swimmer to achieve selection for the national development squad.

He said the girls she had beaten at the national championships were people she had finished second and third to last year.

Rooker said: 'She's done really well and she's got all the attributes to succeed.

'If she keeps fit, who knows what she could do? She's very driven but she's got to keep her feet on the ground and knuckle down.'