Dual Olympic medallist Jared Tallent has declared the London Games his best chance to win a gold and ‘‘complete the set’’ of medals in his trophy cabinet.
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But the race walker admits he can feel the weight of a nation on his shoulders as the pressure builds ahead of his first event today.
Tallent became the first Australian to win two athletics medals at the same Olympics when he collected a silver and bronze in the 50-kilometre and 20km walks respectively in Beijing.
At the time Tallent was not part of the Australian medal predictions.
But four years later he can feel the pressure of being one of the favourites.
‘‘I think I’m in the prime of my life and these Olympics will be the best chance for me to win gold,’’ Tallent said after arriving in London.
‘‘The expectation now is to do better than last time, that definitely creates more pressure, but I don’t mind that.
‘‘I don’t get too nervous . . . there’s an expectation the athletics team will win six medals and that’s probably banking on me hopefully picking up two.
‘‘No one expected anything last time and it was a huge shock, this time they want you to do better.’’
Tallent has spent the past six weeks training in Europe.
He spent a month at altitude before finalising his preparation at the Australian Institute of Sport base in Italy.
Training partner Chris Erickson will join him in the 20km event before he backs up for the longer version to finish his campaign on August 11.
While Tallent is aiming for gold, he says the 50km race will be his best chance.
‘‘There are some young guys who have come through in the 20km and it’s going to be very tough, I want to be in the top six,’’ Tallent said.
‘‘I’d be stoked with a podium finish in that, but really it’s a great hit-out for the 50km and that’s where I think I’ve got a great shot of winning.’’
In between the races, Tallent will take a mid-Olympic sojourn out of the athletes’ village to stay with wife Claire in a hotel in Paddington.
Claire – who will compete in the women’s 20km race – will arrive in London today.
However, she won’t be allowed to move into the athletes’ village until tomorrow.
The Tallents have paid for their own hotel for the night and the Australian Olympic Committee rejected their request to stay in the same room in the village.
‘‘We did want to stay in the same room, but we’re here to do a job and we want to perform,’’ Jared said.
‘‘It will be nice to spend a night together before the race because we haven’t seen much of each other, because I’ve been in Europe and Claire has been back in Canberra training.
‘‘It is a little bit annoying that she can’t move into the village straight away, but our family will be [near the hotel] and it’s going to be a great break.’’
