Two of Kate French’s best friends are sticking to their word and heading out to Rio to support the Team GB modern pentathlete.

Since French started the sport her friends and family vowed to attend the Olympics if she was ever picked to represent Great Britain.

And ahead of her debut Olympics, the Gravesend-born athlete said: “Everyone is so excited. My family are all coming out to support me – about 15 of them – along with two of my best friends from home.

“Since we were at school they’ve always said ‘If you get to the Games we are coming along’ so they’re really pleased and proud of me getting there.

“That support is going to be amazing.”

French, who is now based in Bath, believes she can claim a medal but has refused to point out a specific target.

She added: “I don’t have a specific goal in mind, a medal would obviously be amazing.

“On the day I just want to be in the best shape I can be in so that I can put in my best performance and hopefully achieve a medal, or a top six which would be great.”

French arrives in Rio next week ahead of the start of the modern pentathlon competition which begins on August 18.

Follow her on Twitter @KateFrench3.