In her first column for ESPN, Australian Olympian Emily Seebohm reflects on the experiences of the London Olympics, including her silver medal in the 100m backstroke, and the important lessons she learned there and at the 2015 world championships in Kazan that have her poised to race for gold in Rio de Janeiro.Four years ago, I was fast enough to win gold in the 100m backstroke at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.The trouble was, I swam a gold-winning time in my heat before touching the wall some 0.45 seconds slower in the final.Its a lesson Im determined to learn from at the Rio Games.Failing to win gold at London was really tough. At the time, I set my sights on gold and nothing else; that was all I wanted. If I didnt get that gold, it wasnt good enough. But I have another chance now. After four long years featuring thousands of hours of following that thin black line, I can finally make amends.The major lesson I took from London was the need to peak at the right time during an Olympics campaign. I cant go out and swim my fastest race in the heats again. I am so determined to get faster from the heats to the semis and then the final; thats something I didnt do in London, and its an area I can improve in.Race Smarter, Not HarderMy coach David Lush says I have to go out easier -- not easy, but easier -- as I sometimes go too hard and then it hurts me at the back-end if I die a bit because Ive worked so much harder going out. If I work smarter and go out a bit easier, then Im able to bring it home much more strongly.But its hard, because you want it so badly and you push yourself so much early; but it can end up hurting you when you need that reserve energy at the end and youve got nothing left to give.Relaxation Can Deliver ResultsI still love racing and I really enjoy big events like the Olympic Games, even more now than when I was younger. Before, it was daunting to go out and race against the rest of the world; but now I go out there feeling so much more confident inside myself because I know I can do it, and I dont have to over-think things.In fact, Ive never felt more relaxed at a major meet than at last years world championships in Kazan, Russia, where I won the 100m-200m double. It was a fantastic result and I know if I can go into this Olympics with the same mindset, Ive got some great results up my sleeve.I think, having done so well in Kazan, it means theres less pressure on me because I have that much more confidence now. That confidence gives me extra drive when I need it, and the mental strength I need when Im racing.Taking It All InThe four-year Olympic cycle brings with it so much pressure. But this is my third Olympics; Im ready to go and I just cant wait to compete.I know what to expect now. It gets crazy before an Olympics but I can just be in Rio and have fun and enjoy it.I need to take what I learned in Kazan into Rio and enjoy the experience. Its over so quickly and its only on every for years, so you have to enjoy it. And Im confident I can do better and improve from London.Im Taking Nothing For GrantedI never like to guess what may happen when the Games finally get underway. Who knows what will happen? Maybe Ill get sick or injured before I can start racing; I mean, Ive dislocated my kneecap riding a horse before, so anything can happen!But fingers crossed nothing like that happens. Ive worked so hard to get to this position. Ive made sure Ive put 100 percent in during every training session; if I didnt put in everything I had, then its a wasted session.So Im feeling confident both from a physical and mental sense; Ive got some brilliant support from my family -- mum, dad and two of my brothers will be in Rio, which will be amazing -- my coach, my boyfriend Mitch Larkin and so many others.Rivals On NoticeHonestly, I dont pay too much attention to my rivals most of the time. I do watch their trials to see who makes the teams but for me, when I line up against them, I often dont know a lot about whos up on the blocks with me.Of course, Ill know a few from having raced against them in the past, but you get so many surprises during an Olympic year and its hard to pick wholl be a winner in each race. So I dont get too worked up about anyone who may or may not be in my races.Saying that, though, I know that my Australian teammates Madi Wilson and Belinda Hocking, in the 100 metres and 200 metres respectively, are very strong.Outside my teammates, I think my biggest threat will be Denmarks Mie Nielsen. In previous years, shes flown out of the blocks with a fantastic first 50 but lost a bit of power in the back-end of a race; Im sure shes worked really hard to rectify that.Therell be plenty of quality contenders at Rio, but Ive picked Mie as my major threat outside the Aussies. Clearance Asics NZ Online . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. 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"The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Red Bull boss Christian Horner says Mercedes must consider if its current driver line-up is tenable in the long term after another collision between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in Austria.Hamilton won in Spielberg despite a last-lap clash with teammate Rosberg, who had been leading the race but had to settle for fourth due to damage from the incident. The collision nearly elevated Max Verstappen to a victory in a scenario which would have been similar to his maiden win in Barcelona earlier this year, which came after the Mercedes drivers crashed out while vying for the lead on the opening lap.When it was put to him that he must want the collisions to continue as a rival team boss, Horner said: You always want to win on merit and it is never good to benefit on others misfortune. But youve got to be there to capitalise.I think for Mercedes, in the long term, how tenable is it for that pairing to continue as a team?Rosbergs contract expires at the end of the current season, though Mercedes have said the Austria clash will have no impact on extension talks.Horner was then asked if one solution was to have one driver of a different calibre to the other, and he replied: While theey are in the situation they are in with the competitiveness they have and the closeness of performance they are obviously going to have these issues and will not be isolated to this race.ddddddddddddThat is an attractive element for the sport and I think when you have got a dominant car it is great to see the cars going head-to-head.Horner has experience of managing a tricky teammate rivalry, with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber enduring a difficult relationship in their five years at Red Bull together. With Mercedes now considering team orders Horner says that in itself is a tricky situation for any team to properly implement.It is enormously difficult because no matter how much those guys says they are team players they are contractors and racing for themselves. They are going for the biggest prize in motorsport.Inevitably they will do what is right for them. I think theyve got sufficient margin over the rest of the field why do they need to consider that. It creates interest in F1 which it needs with two teammates who may not be best of mates. ' ' '
