ICE SKATING: Jenna takes Olympic bow tonight

Injury robbed her of the chance to compete in Turin in 2006 but over the last fortnight the 23 year-old has made up for that disappointment, soaking up the Olympics experience.

"It's just so exciting and really different from any other competition I have ever done, it's so cool to have so much going on in other sports as well and it's been a lot of fun mixing with so many new people.

"I have learnt a lot about the other sports and athletes and what kind of training they do and everything that their sport requires, it's very different to the kind of things figure skaters do.

"One of the highlights was walking into the BC Stadium at the opening ceremony with Team GB.

"It was absolutely amazing, we were all so hyper and excited. When they announced Great Britain, I had butterflies in my stomach!"

Jenna's build-up to the competition hasnt been without its difficulties. She had been suffering with a viral infection in her chest and throat for more than six weeks and was almost forced to pull out of the European Championships last month in Tallinn.

The seven-time British champion, who will be the first skater from Northern Ireland to compete in the Winter Olympics, still managed a personal best in the short program in Estonia before illness affected her free program and she finished down in 14th.

"The venue of the competition rink is amazing the ice is great and the good thing is that the ice on the practice rink is exactly the same so that's good because we don't have many practices on the main arena.

"Practices have been going well, some days are more difficult than others but that's normal. I'm feeling pretty good so we will see."

Under the watchful eye of her coach Yuri Bureiko, Jenna will skate the short programme tonight to Dance Of Death by Franz Liszt and on Thursday her long programme will be performed to the Voice Of The Violin by Andrea Camilleri.

In order to maximise her chances she has been working with internationally renowned choreographer Shanetta Folle.

"I was very lucky to be able to work with one of the worlds best choreographers this season, I think she has done a great job with the music choice and the programmes. The style is a little bit different from what I normally do but I like it and I think it works for me."

Jenna wont lack from support either. Her parents, Craig and Ainsley arrived in Vancouver over the weekend and after finishing 17th in the men's competition for his native Belgium last week Jennas husband Kevin Van der Perren will join them. "We worked so hard for so many years and I am happy to be here, I want to do my best and make everyone proud."