Jazz Carlin plans to make her experience count at the World Championships in Russia this week after admitting she almost turned her back on swimming.
The 24-year-old Welsh swimmer will be a serious medal contender for Great Britain in the 400 metres and 800m freestyle in Kazan as she is ranked in the top three in the world in both events.
And Carlin, who failed to qualify for the London Olympics in 2012 after being struck down with glandular fever, says the pain of missing out on her home Games three years ago continues to drive her on.
"I nearly walked away from the sport after missing out on 2012," Carlin told PA Sport. "It really does make you appreciate everything. I think once you've gone through the hard times, it makes you realise how much you've gone through and how much you appreciate what you do.
"I do love swimming, I think it's a great sport and I'm lucky to have all the experiences to travel the world and be on the podium in some of the great events.
"For me, I thought I would give it one last shot and see how it goes. I'm pretty lucky I did take that last chance."
Carlin bounced back from her Olympic disappointment to become Wales' first female Commonwealth swimming champion in 40 years with her 800m freestyle triumph in Glasgow in 2014.
She followed that up by claiming European titles in the 400m and 800m as well as medalling at the short course World Championships in Doha and was named British Swimming Athlete of the Year.
Carlin has since moved training bases from Swansea to Bath ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the change appears to be paying off as she won British titles over 200m, 400m and 800m in April to qualify for Kazan in style.
"I've been really happy with how things are going," Carlin said. "Whenever you go to a big competition internationally, you really want to be at your best and be on the podium and I can't wait to get going.
"Four years ago it was all about London and it's now all about Rio.
"I'm not young any more, I'm one of the seniors on the team, one of the more experienced ones. "It is a bit different being on that other side but I'm using all my experience to make me better and to improve.
"I don't want to happen again what happened in 2012, but I don't see it as pressure because I put pressure on myself anyway."