PORT Macquarie's Paige Leonhardt is off to Rio after finishing third in the 100-metre multi class breaststroke at the Australian championships in Adelaide.
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She touched the wall in a time of 1.21.31 which was a personal best and the fourth fastest time clocked in the world this year.
She snuck in ahead of the qualifying time of 1.21.36
Paige's mother, Tanya, said the feeling was still "a little surreal" after the team was announced on Thursday night which brought to an end a four-week period away from home.
They had been on the road since Easter and Mrs Leonhardt said the long distances they had travelled for swimming was now worthwhile.
"It will be her first Olympic Games and makes the four hours she spends in the car each day worth it," she said.
"It's been tough for her because she still has to go to school and loves her social life.
"She always said she was going to make the Olympics and now she has.
"Good things do come to those who wait."
It will be the 15-year-old's first overseas trip although she travelled to Canada as a newborn baby.
"So it's pretty much her first time overseas," Mrs Leonhardt said.
The Leonhardt's will return to Port Macquarie this weekend for a week of rest and recuperation.
She will then have a five-week block of training before heading to camp in Cairns.
