10 minutes with beach volleyball babes Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin

Where are you at the moment?
Zara: We're on a beach in Ukraine competing in the Continental Cup. It's a lot better than I expected: there's a big restaurant next to the courts, the sun's out and a DJ is playing Europop.
Sounds like Matthew Pinsent wasn't too far off the mark when he called beach volleyball 'just a party' at the last Olympics.
Zara: It's disappointing that someone so high profile in sport was able to say that about an up-and-coming sport in Britain, especially with the 2012 Olympics so close. We haven't had the chance to have it out with him yet.
Do you get annoyed that British people link beach volleyball to sex before sport?
Shauna: It's difficult for the British public to understand that it's our job and we train six days a week. The rest of the world considers it a proper sport, players are celebrities in countries such as Brazil. We want people to realise that you do have to be pretty athletic to play beach volleyball.
You seem to be attracting more interest than the 100m final, are you excited about playing in Horse Guards Parade?
Shauna: Absolutely, it'll be amazing. Our aim is to make the Queen's Guards smile. Hopefully we'll be playing such good volleyball that they'll have to look.
What do you make of the regulation bikini bottoms and sports bras?
Zara: I wouldn't change them. For us, it's the most comfortable kit because it's small, cool and doesn't get sandy. Our tan lines from the bikini bottoms are very pronounced, we spend most of the off-season trying to get rid of them.
Do matches ever get catty?
Shauna: Yes, it can get pretty fiery. We know when we're going to play Italy or Holland that it'll be volatile and aggressive and there'll be screaming through the net. I once upset one of the Italian players so much she kicked the ball at me.
Are your friends jealous of your year-round beach bodies?
Shauna: They're more envious of our lives. We get to travel around the world playing a sport we love, but it's definitely not easy. We never mention the bad bits, like the tears on court or the frustration when things aren't going as planned.
Do you spend holidays on the beach?
Shauna: No, I actually hate sand. If I want to lie down and read a book, the last thing I want is get all sandy.
Zara and Shauna will be competing in the Visa FIVB Beach Volleyball International at Horse Guards Parade from 9-14 August