McIntosh wants her own Super Saturday experience at Rio 2016

Jen McIntosh can remember the exact moment her focus switched to Rio - it was Super Saturday of the London 2012 Olympics, a day when she personally felt far from super.

August 4th 2012 will forever be remembered for Team GB winning six times as many gold medals in a single day as it did at the entire 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

From Eton Dorney to the Olympic Stadium, it seemed they had God Save The Queen stuck on a loop as all that glittered was gold.

But 24-year old McIntosh is quick to admit that London 2012 brings back some mixed emotions. Pride in being part of the celebration but disappointment with her own personal performance, a 36th and 42nd place in the 10m and 50m rifle respectively.

And she admits the long road to Rio started as soon as she made her way off the range at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

"I expect a lot of myself, I'm a very demanding person," she admits.

"In many ways London was a huge disappointment, my results were really bad and I didn't perform when I needed to.

"I picked up an ear infection just before the Games and it really threw me because my balance was totally off.

"I had to deal with everyone saying the Olympics was amazing while knowing that my experience was completely different. I think that's only driven me forwards towards Rio, I want a good Olympic experience and want to do myself proud.

"I started thinking about 2016 almost as soon as my competition finished in London. I knew I was better than that. I think I'll define my career by what I do at an Olympics and I can't wait for Rio now."

McIntosh, the daughter of four-times Commonwealth Games medalist Shirley McIntosh, was one of six British shooters who confirmed their places on Team GB this week.

And she's looking forward to flying under the radar after the pressures of London - where she was Team GB's first medal hope on the opening morning of competition - and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where a silver and bronze secured her place as Scotland's most decorated women medallist in Games history.

"Nothing is ever going to be as scary as London and, for me, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was even greater pressure because there was a huge expectation on me. I feel I can deal with anything now," she added.

"I really thrive on the extra pressure of an Olympics. It's a big step up from Commonwealth Games to the Olympics but the experiences are very similar and most of the pressure comes from inside anyway.

"Our family is not just shooting obsessed but sports obsessed, so the Olympics is always talked about at the dinner table and maybe that's why I put such pressure on myself.

"However, it feels very different this time around. In London I got to compete because we had a host nation place but this time I've earned that selection and that only gives you more confidence.

"It's satisfying to know I'm in the team because of my own hard work and it's nice to be rewarded for that."

Sportsbeat 2015