Nick Dempsey insists he is determined to keep hold of his RS:X windsurfing world title when competition gets underway in Santander this weekend.
Dempsey became the first man in history to win two RS:X windsurfing world titles when he claimed gold at last year’s event in Buzios, Brazil.
However, since then the 34-year-old has found the going tough, admitting that his season so far has been sub-standard by his own high expectations.
But Dempsey, who also has an Olympic bronze and silver medal on his CV, is determined to bounce back in style at the 2014 World Championships.
“It is especially important for me to do well here. I haven’t performed this year and I want to do well for myself more than anyone,” the 34-year-old explained. “I have trained hard and have put a lot into it and I want some reward and some of that good feeling that you get when you do well and you do perform.
“I am feeling pretty good, quite relaxed but a little nervous. There are just a couple of days until we start and training is going well. The venue is all set up, the team is looking good and I am in a good place.
“Being world champion changes other people’s perceptions of how they think you should perform but for myself I know exactly where I am at. “I have my own expectations that I want to meet. Being world champion is nice, but it doesn’t make any difference to the way I approach this week.
“I am fired up and I am ready. I think I can do well and I just want to get started.”
© Sportsbeat 2014