LONDON - They put in years of hard work and sacrifice even though they will not be the ones winning Olympic medals.

Russia's Maria Sharapova (L) hugs her father Yuri Sharapov after her win over Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne in the women's final match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, in this September 9, 2006 file photo. [Agencies]

The families of athletes heading to the Beijing Games can only hope that years of scheduling meals, holidays and finances around their loved ones' sporting lives will be made worthwhile by Olympic success.

British 14-year-old diving prodigy Tom Daley relies on his parents to ferry him to training and support him at competitions around the world.

"Tom has a mile walk from school. I take him so he's not too tired," his father Robert told Reuters by telephone.

"I go as a spectator to all of his competitions. I always have done from when he first started. I didn't want to be one of those parents who just dropped their kids off to a waiting bus or a mini-bus. I always made my own way there and if it's in this country the whole family come."

Some parents go to more extreme lengths to ensure their child makes the transition from good to elite.

When tennis facilities in Russia were not up to scratch, Maria Sharapova's parents decided she needed to train abroad if she was to forge a career in the sport.

Seven-year-old Sharapova and her father went to a tennis camp in Florida while her mother remained in Russia, separated from them for more than a year while she waited for a visa.

Now that Sharapova is the world number one with three grand slam titles to her name and a first shot at an Olympic medal in August, her family must think the hard times have paid off.

ROMANCE SECOND

Romance takes a firm second place for many athletes, with British cyclist Victoria Pendleton saying that there is simply not enough time to fit that in alongside training and racing.