ROSS Davenport will go back to basics to make a big splash in the 2012 London Olympics – and that simply means hard work.
Australian 25 year old emulated swim king Ian Thorpe by taking the 200m freestyle title at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006.
But the Belper star has been forced to navigate a course through choppy waters since then, twice failing to live up to his own high expectations on the big stage.
He narrowly missed out on a place in the Olympic final and also disappointed at the World Championships in Rome this year, finishing 11th.
However, Davenport, who hopes to defend his Commonwealth title in Delhi next October, insists the lure of a home Olympics is all the motivation he needs to get back on track.
"It's been disappointing but all you can do is just get back in the pool and continue to train hard," said Davenport, speaking ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games 1,000 days to go anniversary.
"There is no secret to it – it is all about hard work.
"I had about three weeks off swimming after the World Championships but then it was straight back in the pool to train again.
"I was a little bit disappointed to be honest – it hasn't been a great year but I think it is always a bit tough coming back off an Olympic year.
"I wasn't happy with how I swam in Rome and I want to try to put that right – I wanted to make the final but there is always next year to improve.
"There are no worlds or Olympics next year so it will be a chance to get in some hard training."
Davenport is currently in training for the FINA World Cup series, which will take galas in Berlin, Stockholm and Singapore.
And despite his recent struggles on the world stage, he insists he has nothing to prove when he lines up against swimming's big guns.
"The only pressure on me is the pressure I put on myself," added Davenport.
"I know I am capable of making finals and performing well – it's just that for one reason or another it is just not happening for me on the day.
"The only thing I can do is just keep working hard and making sure I put 100% into all my training.
"The Olympics is a big enough motivation anyway but for it to be in your home country is just massive.
"It's less than three years now and that time will fly by before you know it.
"I want to try and make sure I'm in Great Britain squads up to that point and swimming well because I desperately want to be a part of that."
Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to London 2012. LloydsTSB.com/London2012.
Australian 25 year old emulated swim king Ian Thorpe by taking the 200m freestyle title at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006.
But the Belper star has been forced to navigate a course through choppy waters since then, twice failing to live up to his own high expectations on the big stage.
He narrowly missed out on a place in the Olympic final and also disappointed at the World Championships in Rome this year, finishing 11th.
However, Davenport, who hopes to defend his Commonwealth title in Delhi next October, insists the lure of a home Olympics is all the motivation he needs to get back on track.
"It's been disappointing but all you can do is just get back in the pool and continue to train hard," said Davenport, speaking ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games 1,000 days to go anniversary.
"There is no secret to it – it is all about hard work.
"I had about three weeks off swimming after the World Championships but then it was straight back in the pool to train again.
"I was a little bit disappointed to be honest – it hasn't been a great year but I think it is always a bit tough coming back off an Olympic year.
"I wasn't happy with how I swam in Rome and I want to try to put that right – I wanted to make the final but there is always next year to improve.
"There are no worlds or Olympics next year so it will be a chance to get in some hard training."
Davenport is currently in training for the FINA World Cup series, which will take galas in Berlin, Stockholm and Singapore.
And despite his recent struggles on the world stage, he insists he has nothing to prove when he lines up against swimming's big guns.
"The only pressure on me is the pressure I put on myself," added Davenport.
"I know I am capable of making finals and performing well – it's just that for one reason or another it is just not happening for me on the day.
"The only thing I can do is just keep working hard and making sure I put 100% into all my training.
"The Olympics is a big enough motivation anyway but for it to be in your home country is just massive.
"It's less than three years now and that time will fly by before you know it.
"I want to try and make sure I'm in Great Britain squads up to that point and swimming well because I desperately want to be a part of that."
Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to London 2012. LloydsTSB.com/London2012.
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