Trott (centre) celebrates team pursuit gold at the Track Cycling World Cup in the Olympic Velodrome
Laura Trott may have timed her ascent through Team GB's cycling ranks at just the right time to emerge as Britain's outstanding new Olympics starlet.
She will be only 20 by the start of the Games, but Trott's remarkable development over the past year-and-a-half has led to many tipping her as a medal hopeful at her first Games.
As recently as 2010, Trott's Olympic ambitions centred on a likely debut at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. However, her first senior European Championships gold medal in the team pursuit in November 2010 cranked up her expectations, and the Hertfordshire ace then retained her crown last year.
In 2011, she also secured the European omnium title and the world team pursuit crown, setting her on a course to compete in both disciplines at London 2012.
In February 2012, Trott won a gold with a world record time in the team pursuit and a bronze in the omnium at the International Cycling Union World Cup in London.
However, Trott has had to overcome adversity on the road to becoming one of Britain's brightest Olympic hopes.
She was born with a collapsed lung and took up cycling to build up her strength. She then overcame asthma, but she still has to deal with an ailment that causes her to vomit after almost every race or intensive training session.
Trott's strength of character could prove crucial as she faces off against her rivals from the United States, New Zealand and Australia.