Chris Walker-Hebborn admits a disappointing Olympics rocked his confidence but he insists he’s now back to his best and ready to come out firing.
The 22-year-old, a backstroke specialist, failed to make it out of the heats in either the 100m or 200m events at London 2012 and considered calling time on his swim career.
But he is back looking for medals at this week's British Gas Championships in Sheffield, the national team trial for next month's World Championships in Barcelona.
“London 2012 was not at all where I wanted to be, I took some time off afterwards to try and pick myself back up,” said Walker-Hebborn. “And this season so far has been great; everything is going the way that I could have hoped.
“When you don’t swim well of course those thoughts [of retirement] start to enter your head but I took my time. I have not achieved what I wanted to in the sport and I know I’m capable of more; I don’t want to look back and be thinking ‘what if?’
“Until I am forced to stop or I think that I have reached my potential then I will still be out there swimming. I’ve only had one gold at the British Championships so far in my career and who does not want to win more medals?”
Walker-Hebborn, who you can support at the trials on the live streaming page on the British Swimming website, has made two appearances at the long course World Championships but only over 200m.
In Sheffield Walker-Hebborn will be gunning for victory in his main event, the 200m, but has also backed himself to turn a few heads over half the distance as well.
“Barcelona and this summer’s World Championships are well within reach but I have still got to qualify, the times I need to hit are more than achievable,” he added.
“The 200m has always been my main event but the 100m is an event I’ve been making some improvements in and can hopefully start to make a name for myself against the likes of Liam Tancock.
“I would like to dip into the 53-second mark for the 100m while in the 200m I’m going for the win, if I can swim under 1:57 minutes as well then that would be great.
“I feel like I’m firing on all cylinders at the moment.”
© Sportsbeat 2013