How young is too young to compete in international sport? Rebecca Perrott had an outstanding swimming career which began when she was picked at the age of 12 for the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. Rebecca was the youngest athlete there and she tells Eyewitness producer Justin Gregory that taking up swimming had a lot to do with sibling rivalry.

"I think if you're fast enough to be there, then you're old enough." - swimmer Rebecca Perrott.

Like everyone who saw the '74 Commonwealth Games, Rebecca Perrott clearly remembers New Zealand runner Dick Taylor winning the 1500m finals on the opening day. She laughs at the memory of weightlifter Graham May falling on his face during one of his lifts and recalls with awe the moment legendary Australian swimmer Michael Wenden announced his retirement by tossing his togs into the crowd.

What she doesn't remember is whether she felt nervous before her races.The Games were more than forty years ago and astonishingly, Rebecca was only twelve at the time; the youngest competitor there.

"I get very nervous now. I can't imagine it was any different back then!'

Born in Wellington in 1961, Rebecca moved to Fiji with her family in the early 70's when her father worked for the University of the South Pacific. Her big sister Jane was shoulder-tapped to join the Suva swimming club and a few months later, Rebecca joined her - much to her sister's annoyance.

"She hated the fact that anything she did, I would eventually end up doing, too."

With good coaching and regular training, Rebecca's times kept on improving and her development was so fast that, despite not having made the qualifying times for the Games, she was picked on potential and given a licence to simply swim as fast as she could. With her sister also in the team and Mum along to take care of them, they flew to Christchurch.

The 10th British Commonwealth Games began on 24 January 1974 at the brand new QEII Park in the suburb of North New Brighton. Fiji was one of 38 teams at what was billed as the "friendly games". The '74 Games were a mix of the old and the new; this was be the last time the word "British" would be used in the official title and the first time that TV coverage of most events would be in colour, including the swimming. With a catchy theme song and an eye- catching logo, the Commonwealth Games were a bit of a big deal. Not that Rebecca knew that.

"We lived in Fiji; no TV, there was no internet back then."

"I went into (the Games) very innocent and naive."…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details