David Murdoch admitted his motivation drained away in the days that followed the Vancouver Olympics - but insists he's never been more determined to claim curling gold ahead of next year's Games in Sochi.
Murdoch will make his third Olympic appearance in Russia after being named in a five-strong rink that includes Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow.
In 2006 he narrowly missed out on bronze and in 2010, despite arriving as the reigning world champion, his team could only finish a disappointing fifth.
Murdoch then appeared to lose his way, rival skip Brewster winning the Scottish national title and then claiming world silver two years ago.
However, the decision for Brewster and Murdoch to team up last season paid dividends, Murdoch taking over skip duties to claim bronze at this year's World Championships in Canada.
"Vancouver certainly knocked my confidence, we went there as reigning world champions but if we are honest we hadn't had a good season coming into it," he said.
“I still had a lot of drive to practice hard but it just wasn't there for us.
"I really felt that was going to be the one when we'd bring home that medal and it was quite hard to get back up from the disappointment.
"It took about a year or so to recover from the Olympics. I suddenly remembered the drive to win that elusive medal was still there and I was determined to get back into it. Now I want that medal that has eluded me."
Team officials have yet to decide how they will use their five-strong team and whether the four starting positions will be decided or rotated.
But Murdoch - a two-time world and three-time European champion - has been named as skip by team chief Dave Crosbee.
"We've got options but it's really going to be the coach's call and that is what he’s paid to do. All we can do is get in top form," adds Murdoch
"We're all pushing to be involved and I think that’s improved all our games. I finished last season as skip and started as third and I love both positions.
"This is the best men's curling programme I've been involved with. You do need to get on with these guys because you live in their pockets for six months of the year, you can't get any distance from them.
"We’ve got that special bond in our team and hopefully that is the difference in Sochi."
© Sportsbeat 2013