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Page last updated at 17:54 GMT, Thursday, 9 April 2009 18:54 UK

Miley targets championship gold

Miley eyes World Championship gold

Scottish swimmer Hannah Miley is targeting a gold medal at the World Championships in Rome in July.

Miley finished sixth at the Beijing Olympics but last month she set the fourth-fastest time ever for the 400m individual medley.

"I need to ensure I can go and do the best I can and I'd like to avoid injury," she told BBC Scotland.

"It's been quite a journey for me, adding to all my experience, and it's shown that the training is paying off."

The 19-year-old set her second European record at the British Swimming Championships in March when she won the 400m medley with a time of four minutes 31.11 seconds.

She is now less than two seconds off Stephanie Rice's world record.

I was disappointed with my time in Beijing, but most athletes are perfectionists and I know I have a lot more to give

Hannah Miley

Three days earlier, she set a new European record in the 200m individual medley to finish in two minutes 09.59 seconds.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was pretty incredible and unexpected," said Miley.

"Now that I've done the drop, there's pressure to make sure I get the job done at the World Championships.

"But that's what sport it about - it's about handling the pressure and getting the job done when it needs to get done.

"I was disappointed with my time in Beijing, but most athletes are perfectionists, and I know I have a lot more to give.

"It's happened, and I've dealt with it, so hopefully I can move on."



see also
Rampant Miley adds to record haul
20 Mar 09 |  Olympics
Miley storms to European record
17 Mar 09 |  Olympics