London 2012 canoe sprint gold medallist Ed McKeever admits he’s happy for life to get back to normal as he sets his sights on an eighth world title this year.
McKeever scooped K1 200m gold at Eton Dorney and has since competed in two events this year, finishing fourth in the World Cup in the Czech Republic last year, having won silver in Hungary the week before.
Next on the agenda for the 29-year-old is the European Championships in Portugal next month before another tilt at the World Championships in Duisberg in August.
And while he hasn’t set the world alight this year, McKeever is pleased with the progress he has been making.
“There was a big buzz right after the Games and I got dragged around a bit, but now I’m quite happy to put my gold medal in a drawer and get on with things,” said McKeever.
“I never did sport to become a celebrity, I did it because I wanted to do the sport. Things are a lot more relaxed now, which is nice, and if the pressure builds again over the next few years it will be because of my own expectations.
“It might sound silly for an Olympic champion to say I’m satisfied with my second and fourth places so far this season, but I have just come back from a five-month break.
“I knew I wouldn’t be so strong straight away after the Olympics, but there is still plenty of time before the World Championships, there’s a big block of training and I know I’ll be more competitive there.”