LIZZIE Simmonds insists the pressure is off after rolling back the years with a storming swim at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Former European champion Simmonds makes no secret her principle target is the 200m backstroke, in which she finished an agonising fourth at London 2012.
But the fact she is back to swimming fast over half the distance is an encouraging sign for the 23-year old, who didn't even make the British team for last year's World Championships in Barcelona.
She qualified for tonight's 100m backstroke final as the fourth fastest in 59.98 seconds but admits she's unlikely to be challenging Australia's Emily Seebohm and Welsh swimmer Georgia Davies, the favourites for gold.
"It was a really solid swim and I think it's the first time I've been under a minute since Olympic year," she said.
"That was my aim – to get in and have a really solid swim – so I'm really pleased. I'd like to drop my time down again but my focus is definitely going to be on the 200m."
Simmonds starts her main event on Monday and will be looking to upgrade the silver she won four years ago in Delhi, considering her obvious return to form after the difficulties that followed her second Olympic appearance in London.
"I think I can move this form on in the final but the aim is still always going to be the 200m backstroke, that's my principle target for this meeting," she added. "It's just great to get back down to these sort of times in the shorter distance and that extra bit of speed bodes well."
FIND OUT MORE: Commonwealth Games England (CGE) leads and manages the participation of the Team England at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games. They work with sports, sponsors and Sport England to support the development of athletes and their sports, and to achieve success at Games time.
