Friday 24 March 2017 12:25, UK
Injuries over the last 18 months have given Sam Oldham plenty of time to plot his assault on the Olympic stage.
The 22-year-old gymnast from Nottingham is fit, fired up and buzzing for the final leg in pushing for his Rio spot.
Standards are supremely high in the GB team, so how is Sam coping with the pressure? And how does he relax when he steps out of the gym?
Here are the thoughts from the Sky Academy Sports Scholar.....
1. WITH SIX MONTHS TO GO, SUM UP YOUR FEELINGS IN THREE WORDS
Tunnel vision. Motivation. Excitement.
2. WHO IS YOUR OLYMPIC HERO AND WHY?
My Olympic hero is Russian gymnast Alexi Nemov, the 2000 Olympic All Around champion. I really looked up to him as a youngster and my first memory of the Olympic Games was of him.
His gymnastics was both difficult and technically close to perfect and that's what I'm constantly striving for.
3. WHAT DOES THE OLYMPICS TRULY MEAN TO YOU?
The Olympics means everything to me. It represents the ultimate challenge in my sport and to myself.
It means more than every other competition combined for me. If I make it into the team it will be the culmination of my life's work in the sport and the past 15 years of training.
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION?
I'm yet to know what makes an Olympic champion. But, above all, I believe it's the absolute belief that you can achieve it and the willingness to do everything possible to make it happen.
5. WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS YOU WILL PACK FOR BRAZIL?
My gymnastics bag, music and a good book. (I'd probably need a passport too!)
6. THERE ARE AROUND 268,000 MINUTES BEFORE RIO. WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR YOU IN THAT TIME?
Quality training. Recovery and rest. Consistency in performance.
7. HOW DO YOU TRY TO STAY CALM WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE OLYMPICS?
I trust in my preparation and in my coach 100 per cent. Also I've amassed so much experience in my career meaning I have complete faith in my ability to perform when it's most important.
Then I think it's incredibly important that when I'm not in the gym I do things to take my mind off the summer and the Olympics.
You need a release and for me that's playing on my PlayStation, hanging out with my friends or watching football.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS..............
JAN 16 - MARCH 5: Siobhan-Marie O'Connor, Australia
FEB 3-5: Jack Bateson, Bocskai tournament in Hungary
FEB 3: Mark English, racing in Dusseldorf
FEB 5: Rio Olympics - Six months to go
FEB 6-7: Elise Christie, World Cup in Dresden
FEB 13-19: Quillan Isidore, training camp in Zolder, Belgium
