Being an athlete needs a mix of talent, dedication and commitment, not to mention training, focus, and self-belief — and Rachel Presser, at the age of 19, has the lot.
Hailing from Banora Point, on the far north coast of New South Wales, the synchronised swimmer has represented Australia four times since 2016, winning several individual, duet, and team gold medals at Nationals and Oceania meets.
Now she is one trial away from being guaranteed a position on the national team for the summer 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"There is a set of trials that keep happening and people keep getting knocked off," Presser said.
Presser trains with one of the largest synchronised swimming squads in Australia, the Gold Coast Mermaids.
"Our training regime is pretty rigorous," she said.
"We start with land-based training, which involves strength training, a lot of acrobatics, gymnastics, over-stretching, splits, kicks, sprints and push ups," she said.
Presser juggles her rigid training schedule with university study and coaching a junior squad at her local pool.
"So, on a regular training week, club-wise, we train upwards of 20-25 hours, and then before competition, it's about eight hours a day, six days a week," she said.
"Mum looked at another dance studio, but she was going to have to drive another 20 minutes."
The International Body for Aquatic Sports changed the name of synchronised swimming to artistic swimming in 2017.