Rumours of retirement floated around Kat Driscoll following London 2012, but as she pushes for selection to compete in Rio this summer, the trampoline gymnast admits the added pressure is proving to be the perfect motivation.
The 30-year-old, who missed out on a spot in the Olympic final by just one place in London, has enjoyed great success in recent years, becoming a double World champion in 2013 and picking up silver at the European Games two years later.
With two trampoline places up for grabs, Driscoll is working harder than ever to ensure she is in the best shape of her career come the summer.
But as team selection looms ever closer, the former world number one insists nothing will deter her efforts to book her seat on the plane to Brazil.
“You put so much hard work in over the whole Olympic cycle with the end goal being to compete in Rio,” she said.
“After London, a lot of people expected me to retire or not be able to keep up as I turned 30 this year, or that maybe other gymnasts would come through.
“I guess that was a big motivation for me, to prove people wrong.
“Also, after London I said I was disappointed to miss out on the final and I train every day not to be in that position again if I make it to Rio.
“The honour of competing for Team GB is huge and something I am very proud to have done once and would love to do again this summer.”
With just four months to go until the action in Rio gets underway, never has Driscoll’s performance on the trampoline been of greater importance.
And although training has inevitably stepped up a gear in the lead up to the Games, Olympic fever has truly kicked in for the three-time British champion.
“The Olympic year is very different to any other year,” she said. “You feel like you are on a timescale all the time, like every day counts which of course it does across the whole cycle but you feel it more in an Olympic year.
“Every day feels more and more important, every competition counts, and every training session is monitored so you become very focused on trying to find improvements everywhere.
“At the same time though I find it more enjoyable, there’s more of a buzz and more excitement, it’s definitely intense but also more fun I think.”
Four years ago, Driscoll relished the opportunity of competing in front of a home crowd, and is eager to see what Rio has to offer.
And with one Olympic Games already under her belt, Driscoll believes the experience of London 2012 will greatly assist her preparations this time round.
“It’s different now to how I felt this time ahead of trying to qualify for London for my first Games,” she said.
“Being a home Games made it a huge deal, which every Olympics is, but at home it felt like everyone was involved.
“Everyone had an interest and wanted to be there to see you, and everyone was talking about it non-stop.
“This time round, having been through that excitement, I feel like I’m more relaxed and I’m enjoying the process more.
“The thought of going to an Olympics doesn’t daunt me this time round, I know what to expect so that helps a lot.”
Sportsbeat 2016