Four years ago Laura Trott rocked up at London an Olympic newbie – albeit already a three-time cycling World Champion.
Fast forward to the present day and she will take to the Rio Olympic Velodrome firmly established as an household name in Britain, thanks in no small part to the team pursuit and omnium gold medals she famously won at London 2012.
Whereas she may have flown under the radar when it came to pre-Olympic Games attention in London, there is no such luxury this time around with Trott – who has since added another nine World Championship medals, including four golds – a leading name in not just British cycling, but worldwide.
Defending two Olympic titles might seem daunting to some but Trott insists she has a mental approach to cope.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an added pressure being so well known now,” she said.
“Before London I did not have the pressure, I came in as an unknown. Now it’s different.
“But for me, I try not to make it a different occasion. For us, although you spend time in the village and everyone is competing on the same days as opposed to, for example, cycling in February and athletics World Championships in the summer, it’s very much separate events.
“I try to focus on it as a cycling event. For us, the mechanics are the same, our coaches are the same, so are Australia’s, so are New Zealand’s.
“It’s all the same people that you spend time with in the velodrome. I try and make it not this huge occasion and just focus on the job that I want to achieve.”
With two Olympic titles, 11 World Championship medals and the honour of being the most successful cyclist at European Track Championship level with ten titles, it’s easy to forget Trott is still just 24 years of age.
Not only will she be looking to add to her own Olympic Games medal collection in Rio, she will also be keeping a close eye on fiancé and fellow Team GB cyclist Jason Kenny.
The duo – who can boast five Olympic Games titles between them – are set to marry after Rio 2016, although a final date has yet to be confirmed with their focus currently on matters in Brazil.
Their successes and obvious love for the sport have both played a key role in the growth of cycling in Britain in recent years.
But while eyes will be firmly on the pair and the whole of the Team GB cycling squad to see if they can maintain their dominant performances at Olympic Games level in Rio, Trott is more than happy to keep flying the flag for her country.
“They did a briefing for the athletes at the start of the kitting out day in Birmingham and they show you a video and there was me holding the flag at London 2012,” she said.
“I felt a bit overwhelmed watching. It just all of a sudden feels very real.
“It brings back that real sense of pride. Because it is very much one team, you know that they are all going to be wearing the same stuff – it becomes a massive event and one I’m looking forward to.”
Sportsbeat 2016