Rio 2016: Michael Jamieson has unfinished business at Olympics

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Michael JamiesonImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Michael Jamieson will compete in the United States this summer instead of the World Championships

Olympic silver-medallist Michael Jamieson says his journey is "not finished yet" as he seeks a medal in Rio next summer.

The 26-year-old won 200m breaststroke silver at London 2012 but missed out on gold at last year's Commonwealth Games, where he had been the favourite.

Jamieson has not qualified for next month's World Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Media caption,

'There is no place to hide at all'

"I've got one more medal I'm chasing next summer," Scot Jamieson told BBC Radio Bristol.

"I've had a tough year, the last nine to 10 months have been anything but what I expected, but that's sport.

"Over the last five or six weeks, I've really committed fully to this programme [here in Bath] again in the lead-up to Rio.

"My journey's not finished yet. Physically and psychology, I'm in a great place just now."

Although Jamieson took silver at the Glasgow 2014 Games, his surprise defeat by countryman Ross Murdoch preceded a sixth-placed finish at this year's British Championships, causing him to miss out on Russia.

Michael Jamieson

Originally from Glasgow but based at National Performance Centre in Bath

Won 200m breaststroke silver at 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi

Broke British 200m record for third time with Olympic silver at London 2012

Claimed second successive Commonwealth silver at Glasgow 2014

"It takes you to lose a few things in order to really take stock and gain perspective on how far I've come, what I've achieved in the sport and realise that I'm still capable of winning another Olympic medal next year," he said.

"So much has happened since London 2012. If I finish on the top of the podium next year, I'd love to write a book about everything that's happened in the last couple of years because it's been a hell of a journey.

"We're just back from a little European tour of training and racing and I had some really encouraging results - as fast as I've ever gone in similar heavy blocks of training.

Image source, SNS
Image caption,

Success at London 2012 propelled Jamieson into the spotlight

"I'm under the radar again a little bit and that worked well for me last time."

Jamieson says he would no longer be competing if he did not believe he could add to his medal haul.

He said: "I'm here for a reason. I've chosen Bath for my base and this training programme for a reason and that's to try to win Olympic gold.

"It's going to be a hell of a job, but that belief and that self-confidence is coming back gradually.

"I'm competing at the US nationals in the summer - away from the World Championships, it's not where I want to be.

"But if I can post a time there that would've made the podium at the World Championships then this season will be done and dusted and I'll be in a great place going into Olympic year."

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