IT MIGHT be a surprise, but there are actually two Roma-born athletes for you to cheer on in Rio.

Swimmer Madison Wilson will compete in the 100m backstroke after qualifying second-fastest in Australia for the Olympics in Adelaide earlier this year, just behind golden girl Emily Seebohm.

While she was raised in Yeppoon and lives in Brisbane, the 22-year-old was actually born in Roma in 1994.

She spoke to the Western Star's sister paper the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin about how her parents got her into swimming from six months of age.

"I've swum my entire life,” she said.

"My parents got me in to learn to swim classes at six months old.

"I went to Sacred Heart Primary School and did school lessons and swam with the Yeppoon Sharks, where I made my first Queensland team.”

On top of swimming and study, Wilson also volunteers her time at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, and lists her favourite hobbies as yoga and spending time with her dogs.

You can catch Madi Wilson's backstroke final on Tuesday, August 8 around 11am AEST.