Darcy Deakin admits she has surprised even herself with her form this week at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Utrecht.
And after helping the British 4x100m mixed relay team to fourth, she is hoping to build on her success in the future.
On Tuesday Deakin swam the lead-off leg as Britain’s women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team claimed bronze.
And she was on the anchor leg of the mixed relay a day later in the Netherlands as they just missed out on the podium.
And, despite not quite being able to turn fourth into another bronze, Deakin remained upbeat about her performance in a race she had not expected to be selected for.
“I only found out I was racing in the heats when I got to the pool this morning so that was a bit of a shock,” she said.
“I was not expecting it at all and after the heats I was told I was going to be in the final as well which is far more races than I expected to have out here.
“I thought I was only going to be in the one relay out here in Holland but my times have been good and it was hanging in the balance and I was pleased to be selected.”
Deakin swam the anchor leg of the mixed relay in a time of 58.67seconds but failed to overhaul Ukraine who took bronze ahead of herself, Abbie Wood, Luke Gunning and Martyn Walton.
And the teenager admitted that she was disappointed not to have added to the bronze she had picked up the day before.
“It’s always tough to go into the pool in fourth, knowing that you need to catch someone to get a medal,” she added.
“But especially when you’re not just swimming for yourself but for three other teammates as well.”
© Sportsbeat 2013