We have just spent 2 weeks training in Montpelier, France & Barcelona, Spain and the weather has been beautiful with plenty of opportunities to work on a tan. On Tuesday we move into the Olympic Staging camp in Manchester, UK and all of the Australian Olympic swimming team will be here. You can feel the excitement building amongst everyone as we are getting closer and closer to the London Olympics.

A lot of people have been asking me how I feel about this Olympics and what I am hoping to achieve. This preparation has been very different to Beijing 2008 as I was virtually an unknown swimmer, till I broke the 2 Individual Medley world records at the Australian Nations in March ’08. I was young with no injuries, practically inexperienced on the world stage and didn’t know what to expect at the Olympics. This time around it is completely different. I have been nursing an injury, a torn tendon in my right shoulder for the last 7 months. However, I am 4 years older, wiser, tougher and mentally stronger than last time and I know what to expect. I am not going into London with any other expectation than to swim and race to the very best of my ability. I am confident that I have the strength and tenacity to extract the very best from myself and I am really excited about the outcome. I don’t like to put pressure on myself by speaking of precise goals as I prefer to keep this between me & Bohly. My plan is to swim to the very best of my ability and I have prepared to be the best that I can be in London.

I am going into this Olympics knowing that I have ticked every box and done everything I possibly can to perform at my absolute. I am excited and ready to race!