Before she was even born, Baltacha's Ukrainian father Sergei won an Olympic football bronze for the Soviet Union at the 1980 Moscow Games – also, at the time, on home soil.

Baltacha (pictured above and below), who was born in Kyiv, has been given plenty of advice about what it feels like both to mount the podium and simply take part in the biggest sporting show on earth.

Times may have changed politically since her father competed but the Olympics remains just as iconic now as it was when Ukraine was part of the old Soviet Union.

Baltacha's is congratulated by her father Sergei after winning her second round match against Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine during day three of the 2010 Australian Open

"He said it was probably the most amazing experience he's ever had in his life when they beat Yugoslavia to win the bronze," said Baltacha, who cannot wait to follow in her family's footsteps.

"He's showed me loads of pictures.

"He said it was unbelievable to be part of something so big and he's so proud I've managed to get my spot."

It wasn't only her dad who became caught up in the Olympic spirit.

Her mother, a pentathlete, was also selected but couldn't attend for family reasons.

"To believe that I am going to be an Olympian, it just means so much to me," Baltacha, who will play both singles and doubles, told a Team GB press conference here.

"My mum is actually coming down, to be part of it, while my dad will watch on television."

Elena Baltacha in action at Wimbledon during her first-round victory over Agnes Szavay

The 28-year-old has experienced Federation Cup before but nothing like this and got off to the perfect start today with a 6-3, 6-4 first-round win over Hungary's Agnes Szavay.

However much further she goes, she glows with pride about the Olympics..

"With everything my dad experienced, he said it was impossible to explain," Baltacha said.

"He basically told me to take in everything I can and that it will stay with me for the rest of my life."

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