STRIVING to compete for your country in the Olympic Games would be challenge enough for most young athletes.

But Lucy Boggis has recently taken time out from her 2012 training schedule to become one of the new generation of Gladiators in the Sky One revival of the 1990s' classic TV show.

An international heptathlete - ranked fourth in the UK in 2007 based on just one competition - Lucy was just getting back to training after a prolonged break due to injury and illness when she was approached by the team recruiting Gladiators and was asked to audition.

Now, after a gruelling six week filming schedule, the series is complete and she is back at her Stanton St Quintin family home focussing once more in reaching the top of her game.

She said: "A lot of people might not know what I can achieve in heptathlon, but my coach and I do - 2012 really is a realistic goal."

Constant injury niggles kept Lucy out of the running to travel to Beijing for this year's Olympics, but aged just 19 time is on her side.

Her track record with injuries could have put Lucy off taking part in the TV show - which former Olympic swimmer and Fairford resident Sharron Davies appeared in, but was forced to drop out due to a torn cruciate ligament -but luck was on her side.

"I went into Gladiators expecting to get injured, as I used to get them basically every training session.

"It was a bit bizarre to get nothing - although I did hit my head and get whiplash, but that can be sorted. Usually the problems I have people don't know what's actually wrong."

Having the chance to appear on Gladiators is a childhood dream come true for Lucy, who has fond family memories of settling down to watch the show on Saturday nights.

And trained beauty therapist Lucy is following in the footsteps of her own favourite Gladiator, Jet, as the show's glamour girl - complete with the obligatory hair flick, which was originally Jet's signature move.

"I used to love the show, so it's an amazing experience. I'm glad they've brought it back as it can inspire kids to do fitness.

"My parents are sporty and watching something like that I would think I want to be Jet', and would play Hang Tough on the monkey bars at school.

"I was given the hair flick and blowing kisses to the audience in a choreography session we had. It was all about finding things to go with your character name, and Tempest was pretty hard so I had to be a bit wild and fling myself about."

Although she is loving the Gladiators' experience, Lucy has no plan to ditch her Olympic dream, and says the fun side of the TV show has meade her even more focussed.

"Gladiators is pure fun, and it reminds me of how important my athletics is and what that means to me, " she said.

Height: 5ft 9ins

Weight: 10st 5lbs

Health/fitness AIMS for 2008: To stay fit and injury free.

What do you do to keep fit? I train six days a week; three days at the gym lifting weights and doing 800m training, then three days in London training for my seven events.

Why do you do it? It's my dream to win the Olympic 2012 heptathlon gold, so I train because I want my dream to come true. I also love to be fit and healthy and feel good about my body! Working hard for what you want makes it even more satisfying when you achieve your goals.

What are your eating and drinking habits? I eat six meals/snacks a day, including good organic proteins - chicken breast, salmon, tuna, turkey - and I have good carbs - jacket potatoes, brown rice, sweet potatoes. I also eat a lot of vegetables and fruit, this helps me stay fuelled for the whole day. I drink eight litres of water and juice. I have one day off a week where I will eat what I want, when I want, this helps me keep to my eating plan - I drive myself forward to my days off.

Diet vices? Chinese food.

How's your health? In good form.

Do you take part in competitive sport? My athletics is my passion, and Gladiators is my fun!