Melanie Nocher has enjoyed the “crazy” experience of the Olympics and is determined to enjoy it even more in London 2012.

This Friday at the Dutch Open swimming championships in Eindhoven, Nocher will bid to hit the golden A time of 2:10.80 in the 200m backstroke to book her spot in London. So far, only one Irish swimmer has qualified, Dubliner Barry Murphy.

Nocher, a member of Ards ASC, admits she didn't do herself justice at the World championships in the summer and is determined to fulfil her potential by qualifying for London.

But the 23-year-old Loughborough University student feels that the disappointment of Shanghai has acted as a catalyst for her to push on and move to a new level.

“I feel that I am more mature and dedicated than ever. When you are 16 you think you know everything... I know I still have a lot to learn. I think the last 12 months have been a massive wake-up call for me,” said Irish record holder Nocher, who competed in the Beijing Olympics.”

“I've had many highs and lows but after the Worlds when I didn't swim well it really got me down, hit me hard. It's now or never for me, that's the way I feel. I want to get the time now so I don't have to worry any more about getting the qualifying mark.”

“A lot of what happened was mental. I was comparing myself to others... others around me had been doing different things, working on different things and I started to worry about whether or not I had done enough which was silly.”

“I had worked with a psychologist which was something that I hadn't done before and he was telling me about focusing my mind on the good things I had done but it made me think about what I hadn't done — it was maybe not the best time then but it has been good for me now.”

“I know what I have done, the training, I am ready and you need to have that mental strength because there is a lot of pressure now... it's a job — when you're younger it's a hobby but when you're older it's a job.”

“I needed a kick up the bum to make me aware of what was going wrong and now I'm feeling great in the water, fitter than ever. Using the Kinetica recovery drinks helps me train harder and better.”

Recalling her first experience in the pressure cooker of the Olympics, Nocher feels a tingle of excitement and anticipation of what London could hold for her.

“Beijing, that was crazy. I wish I could have taught myself back then what I know now about dealing with the whole Olympic experience.”

“I remember I was going so crazy, just wondering if I could actually go in and swim and Andy Bree told me to just take a few deep breaths and enjoy it and it seemed to work a treat.”

“There's so much pressure. It's the biggest event in the world, it's one day, one race and everything is on it — it's hard to imagine what it's like and it's hard to control everything.”

“I went to see the Great Wall of China which was great, saw some of the swimming finals. Michael Phelps was good to watch but I didn't get carried away with him, for me it's more about the sport than the person. I didn't think the person who won the 200m back gold in my event was any less impressive than Phelps with his eight gold medals.”

“London is where we all want to be, it's going to be very special. I don't know what I'll do after London so it's all about getting there and I hope I can get the time in Eindhoven.”

Melanie is an ambassador for Irish sports nutritional company Kinetica Sports. For more information log onto www.kinetica-sports.com