By Nia Davies

Whatever sport you're in, the Olympics is your chance to show the world how good you are Nicole Cooke

Four years ago, cyclist Nicole Cooke was deemed too young to compete in Sydney.

But while age may have been a barrier back then, her ability has never been in doubt.

Even as a junior, the Welsh cycling sensation was rewriting the record books, winning four world titles in the space of a year.

Still just 21, Cooke has already won a Commonwealth Games gold and, in 2003, became the youngest ever winner of the World Cup in just her second season as a professional.

Little wonder hers was among the first names to be inked onto the Great Britain team sheet this time around.

"It's been great knowing I don't have to chase results, just concentrate on my preparation for Athens," said Cooke.

"To win the World Cup you've got to perform on different courses on different days - and there's no denying it's a tremendous achievement.

"But the Olympics comes around just once every four years. It's about being the best on the day."

Academy: Hit the road with Nicole Cooke

Cooke's remarkable collection of achievements led to former Wales cycling coach Shane Sutton hailing her as potentially the greatest woman cyclist of all time.

Chris Boardman, one of Britain's most successful ever cyclists, has called her a "phenomenon".

Yet Cooke knows it is the Olympic platform that will provide her with the opportunity to really raise her profile and catapult her into the same category as fellow female athletes Denise Lewis and Paula Radcliffe.

"Whatever sport you're in, the Olympics is your chance to show the world how good you are," she said.

"I think it's even more significant in women's cycling because the men have other high-profile events like the Tour de France."

You have to be focused and constantly motivated, but it's the engine and the legs that get you over the finish line Nicole Cooke

Cooke earned automatic selection for Athens courtesy of her bronze medal at the World Championships way back in October.

Still, a serious knee injury has prevented her taking full advantage of her early qualification.

It has also meant her having to write off any hopes of retaining the World Cup title.

The specialists who have been treating her knee problems over the last six months have now given her the all-clear.

But she is still unlikely to make a return to competitive racing before May.

"My preparations are nowhere near where I thought they would be by now. I've still got a lot of work to do if I want to be hitting form by July," said Cooke.

"Not racing isn't too much of a problem because the technical awareness is innate.

"It's the training that counts - putting in the miles on the bike.

"You have to be focused and constantly motivated, but it's the engine and the legs that get you over the finish line."

Nicole Cooke Born: 13/4/1983 Home: Wick, south Wales Cycling idol: Belgian all-rounder Eddie Merckx Career highlights: Four Junior World titles - road race (twice) time trials, mountain biking; Commonwealth Games gold; Women's World Cup title 2003

With her place in the road race long since secure, Cooke has yet to make up her mind about competing in the time trial, the event she came unstuck in at the Commonwealths.

"If I qualify, it's something I'll have to think long and hard about," she said.

"My focus is on the road race and I want to make sure the time trial doesn't detract from that in any way. There's no point doing the time trial if I'm not capable of a good result.

"As I get more into my training I'll know exactly what I'm capable of," she added.