TYLDESLEY teenager Robyn Nicholls is on course to be a star of the London Olympics in 2012 as the goalkeeper of the Great Britain water polo team.

But first, the Bolton-born 18-year-old must perform closer to home in the LEN Women’s European Nations Trophy at Manchester Aquatics Centre from July 7 to 12.

It will be no easy task for the British team as they have been drawn against the strong water polo playing nations of Slovakia, Belarus and Portugal.

Women’s water polo made its Olympic debut at the Sydney Games in 2000 and has since enjoyed a renewed interest in the UK.

With rules preventing the keeper and six outfield players from touching any pool sides throughout the four seven-minute quarters, the sport requires extreme stamina and is considered among the most demanding of Olympic sports.

Nicholls started playing water polo when she was 12 at Tyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club where she coached by Eric Harrison.

Until the age of 16 she was a keen swimmer, runner, triathlete, hockey and badminton player.

But the former Fred Longworth High School pupil was then selected for the British senior team and joined the high performance squad at the Aquatics centre before being selected for her first senior training camp in Hungary in 2007.

As well as being a full-time athlete, Nicholls is studying a degree in accounting and finance at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Nicholls said: “I developed my interest in water polo because my brother Luke, who is four years older than me, used to play. I watched him play when I was eight or nine and decided I wanted to have a go myself.

“When I started I was the only female playing in Tyldesley and I think that got everything going because they’ve got a women’s team now.

“I was allowed to play in the male team until I was 16 and then it was not allowed any more, so I had to move on to Manchester.”

Nicholls is now undergoing Olympic standard training as well as studying full-time for her degree and admits she finds it tough.

She explained: “I train on average about four or five hours a day at the Aquatics Centre in the morning, and in the evening I go to a training centre in Miles Platting.

“I am looking forward to the European Nations event, and I am confident we can get to the final and win.”