Newly-crowned world taekwondo champion Bianca Walkden has revealed that she is still not 100% despite her triumph in Russia last month.
Walkden became just the second Brit ever to win gold at the World Championships with her victory over France's Gwladys Epangue in the final of the women's +67kg, following in the footsteps of Sarah Stevenson.
As reigning European champion as well, the 23-year-old goes into this week's tournament at the inaugural European Games in Baku as one of the favourites to win another gold medal.
However, she told Sports Mole that she is not feeling the pressure ahead of her event on Friday, as well as insisting that there is more to come from her on the road to Rio.
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First of all, congratulations. How does it feel to be going into your first tournament as world champion?
"I know, even saying that, I haven't actually took it in. This is my first competition being world champion. To be fair, it doesn't feel any different because I'm the same person.
"I'm still going out there with the same goals, even if I've won a lot. But it is nice to have that little title behind your name, so it is good."
Not only are you the reigning world champion, but you're also the reigning European champion going into the first European Games - do you feel more pressure to succeed because of that?
"Not really, no. I knew I could always do it and I had the chance to do it. Even with my knee, I knew I could do it, I just knew it would be a lot harder because obviously I got really injured. But in my head I feel I've got one more box to tick, so it's a lot less pressure in my life as an athlete."
You mentioned that you've had serious injury problems with your knee - are you back to full fitness now?
"I'm actually not. I've got 10% left, and they're the fine margins that make the difference. So I'd probably say another two to three months and hopefully things are back to normal."
So you won the Worlds at only 90%! You must be optimistic about the future if you've still got more to give?
"Yeah, definitely, in my head. Hopefully I can improve in the right way and get better."
Do you feel like you're on the right trajectory towards Rio then?
"Definitely. Now that I'm coming over my injury as well, that's making me feel like I'm on the right track even more. And obviously for me to win the World Championships and be calm in a major competition on stage... it's all coming together slowly, finally."
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This may be the first edition of the European Games, but it would be another major crown to complete a memorable treble wouldn't it?
"Yeah, definitely. It's a lot of points for Rio as well, for us to qualify, so just to get those points would shoot me right up. It makes you feel safer and a bit more relaxed in your journey to Rio.
"Because I really injured my leg, it put me right down in the peak of my career, so I'm just sitting there, doing nothing, getting no points. If you win a competition like this, it shoots you up with the points and makes you feel a bit eased."
Baku was the scene of your European Championships triumph last year - is it good to be back?
"Definitely good to be back. Hopefully I can retain my title, basically because it's Europeans, and we'll see what happens from there."
The taekwondo team is one of the strongest units Team GB have sent out here - is there more pressure on you to succeed because of that?
"We don't think of it or see it like that. We just see our taekwondo team as our taekwondo team. We see each other every day. Jade [Jones] is Olympic champion but is my best mate, a roommate. We are just normal. But hopefully we can do really well as a team, stay as the top athletes we've been told we are."
What is the general feeling amongst the team just two days before the first day of events?
"Everyone's looking forward to it. Obviously it's a good chance, it's a good opportunity. It's something different, it's the first European Games, the first time we're doing something like this. I think everyone's just really excited, I know I am anyway! We'll see what happens."
And because it is the first one, does that make you even more eager to win it?
"Obviously you want to be the first ever one to win it, but like I said you've got to take it round by round and see what happens. To be honest I can't wait to Friday - I'm counting down the days!"
Barney Corkhill
