The 23-year-old from Cheshire made history in October 2006 when she became Britain's first ever gymnastics world champion by winning the uneven bars event in Aarhus, Denmark.

 

It led to her being voted third in that's year BBC Sports Personality of the Year competition behind Zara Phillips.

 

Beijing will be Tweddle's second Olympics, having been part of the squad in Athens four years ago that finished 11th in the team competition and also coming 19th in the all-round competition.

 

She said: “I’m really excited and just looking forward to getting there and doing the best job I can.

 

"The team's been together for a long time now and I definitely feel we can have positive results.”

 

Tweddle will be joined by a group of youngsters in Becky Downie, Marissa King, Hannah Whelan, Laura Jones and Rebecca Wing.

 

Downie, a 16-year-old from Nottingham, said: “I can't describe how happy I am and can’t stop crying.

 

"It’s a massive relief and shows that all the hard work has been worth it.”

 

Whelan, who does not turn 16 until next month and who was taken to her local gymnastics club when she was six because she kept doing cartwheels in Tesco, said: “It feels fantastic to be selected and I'm really proud of myself.

 

"I can't wait to be involved in such a big competition.”

 

King, a 17-year-old from Huntingdon, a club which has already had Louis Smith and Daniel Keatings selected for the men's team, said: " I don’t think this will sink in for a while, its every athletes dream and there’s no words that can some up how happy I am to be selected.

 

"The whole group has worked so hard for this and the emotions are now finally coming out.

 

"I can’t wait to get out there and do the job”

 

Jones, also 16 from Nottingham and who owns three pet parrots, said: "I'm so excited we’ve got a really strong team and I’m confident we’ll do well.”

Wing will be the youngest member of the team as she does not turn 16 until July 15 and is among the brightest young stars of British gymnastics.

 

The Heathrow competitor said: “Its absolutely amazing to be selected and can't describe the feeling.

 

"After so much pressure I’m so glad the selection has come.

 

"We’ve got a really good group of girls that get on well so I’m confident we’ll put in a good performance in Beijing.”

 

Matthew Greenwood, British Gymnastics technical director, said: “We are extremely proud of the women’s artistic team that has been selected for Beijing.

 

"The girls will be very well prepared and in a position to once again prove the great strength in depth that we have now established.”

 

Simon Clegg, the Team GB Chef de Mission, said: “I am delighted to welcome these athletes into Team GB especially Beth Tweddle who was part of the team in Athens.

 

"Hannah Whelan and Marissa King were part of Team GB at youth festivals last year and I am very pleased that they have now taken the next step to join us for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

 

Imogen Cairns and Kayliegh Cooke have been selected as travelling reserves.