Bryony Shaw goes into the RS:X windsurfing competition seeking to banish the memory of a disappointing London 2012 and claim her second Olympic medal.

After claiming bronze in Beijing 2008, the 33-year-old, who lives in Tunbridge Wells and previously sailed at Bewl Water, had hoped for a second medal at Weymouth but had to settle for seventh after struggling to shake off the ill-effects from a super bug caught in the waters of Spain five months earlier.

She revealed: “Despite every effort these Games became my Olympic low, cheering on my team mates as they received their medals, while I sat in a disappointing seventh.

“For the London Olympics my body was not in its best health or physical shape and also my mind was not in the right place to create that winning environment.

“With all these lessons learned and experiences of highs and lows I feel ready and prepared for what I am sure will be the toughest yet most exciting Olympics to win.”

There might not have been a place for Shaw, let alone a medal, after the IOC dropped windsurfing from the Rio schedule in favour of kite-surfing four years ago, however the decision was overturned and she goes to Brazil as World No.1 and one of the favourites, having won a test event in the Guanabara Olympic bay in June.

Shaw also has three World Championship silver medals since her London disappointment and claimed gold at the Sailing World Cup Final in 2015 as well as Sailing World Cup Miami at the turn of the year.

The RS:X event starts on Monday (August 8) with seven days of competition scheduled.