David Davies is a genuine medal hope in the 1500m freestyle

The 19-year-old Cardiff athlete goes to Athens as one of the favourites for the 1500 metres freestyle.

But it was his sixth place in the 2002 Commonwealth Games that proved to be the turning point for the youngster.

"I realised it was my event. My training became more professional and it took over my life," Davies said.

Davies chopped more than 50 seconds off his previous best in the finals in Manchester two years ago and he has continued to improve at a staggering rate.

"At the beginning of 2002 I wouldn't have said I'd be part of Team GB this summer," Davies added.

"I was on a junior team hoping for a European Junior medal but all that changed at the Commonwealth Games.

"I have been utterly focused on making the Olympic team ever since."

I know I've done all the work necessary David Davies

Davies finished fourth at last year's World Championships in Barcelona and was ranked number one in the world after his swim at the Olympic trials in April.

Only defending Olympic champion Grant Hackett of Australia, his boyhood hero, and American Larsen Jensen stand ahead of him in the rankings.

But Davies refuses to be intimidated by the pressure expectation can bring, nor the prospect of facing world number one Hackett.

"Mentally I'm excited about it, I'm not nervous, I just want to get on with it now," Davies said.

"I was 17 when I first raced Hackett at the Commonwealth Games.

"I was only 13 when he started taking the world by storm and at that time I never imagined I'd race him. Since then it's been him beating everyone in the world.

"I regard him as one of the best athletes of all time, with the best record in the world.

"Football teams, athletes - they all eventually get beaten but he's maintained his status in this event for just so long.

"I'll have nothing to lose when we start racing. I'm 19 and hopefully this won't be my last Olympic experience. I know I've done all the work necessary."