There's a buzz at the Narre Warren Kingswim centre, 38 kilometres south-east of Melbourne's central business district, as excited young students prepare to cheer on one of their teachers at the Tokyo Olympics.
"How cool my swimming teacher is at the Olympics, I'm so excited to watch your race, Bec," said five-year-old Eloise Kellet.
At 20 years of age, Bec Henderson will be the youngest athlete to take part in the women's 20km race walk at the games.
"I'm super excited, the whole athletics team got together and dressed up in our formal gear and we watched the opening ceremony," she said.
"It feels so much more real now that we've been able to do that."
Taking advantage of Games delay
For Henderson, the postponed 2020 Olympic Games and cancellation of the World Junior Championships worked in her favour.
"I was still a junior last year, so I would've only been competing in the 10km race."
She took advantage of the extra year, increasing her training and going the extra distance.
The Olympics wasn't even on her radar until she competed in her first 20km race this year.
She placed in Australia's top three, enabling her to qualify for the senior age group and her first Olympics.
As with most first time Olympians, the occasion is bittersweet, as she can't share the experience with loved ones.
But she knows it's for the best.
"It's pretty disappointing my family can't come over to watch, they've been supporting me from day one.
"However, I know that they'll be there at home watching on the TV, so will a lot of my friends."
Those friends include her students at Kingswim and their families, who are collecting and sending messages of support for Henderson to read inside the Olympic village.
"Go Bec, keep focused and then you will be the winner, winner, chicken dinner," said Eloise.
"I can't wait to watch you race Bec, one day I hope I'll get to go to the Olympics like you."
A talented swimmer too
Henderson isn't just a talented athlete, she's also a competitive swimmer, placing fourth at the 10km Open Water Nationals.
"I love swimming but dropped off a bit this year to focus on the Games,'' Henderson said.
She still swims a few times a week and is studying for a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University, on top of teaching and training for the Olympics.
"Both work and uni have been really helpful to allow me to go over to my races and work in times that I can train, study and be a swim instructor."
It's a hectic pace, but Henderson is taking it all in her stride while hoping to inspire a younger generation of athletes.
"I want to make sure the kids I'm teaching are learning the best they can and achieving their goals as well."
An accidental discovery
Henderson's path to race walking started almost by accident.
She took up little athletics in primary school to hang out with her cousins.
"I wasn't good at any of the events at the start, like we'd all get really excited if I'd come second last in something," she laughed.
Then one day she competed in her first race walk and never looked back.
"I won the event, so that was really exciting, and from there I just kept going and trying my best," she said.
"I just love the sport, it's super fun and such a great community to be a part of."
By the age of 16, Henderson was selected to represent Australia at the 2018 World Race Walking Championships and World Triathlon Championships.
Four years later, she secured a spot for Tokyo.
Eyeing Brisbane 2032
Henderson wasn't even born when Australia last hosted the Olympics at the Sydney 2000 Games, but she's determined to compete at Brisbane in 2032.
"It would be so amazing to compete at a home Olympics.
"I'll be 31 by then and will definitely be aiming for that."
* The women's 20km race walk at Sapporo Odori Park starts at 5:30pm AEST on Friday, August 6
