Extraordinary expertise

As team leader, my focus is now on minimising all unnecessary interference and maximising a sense of order and control.  To do this, I seek to handle proactively anything that is not happening on the field of play and have an answer to the myriad of questions that inevitably arise once a team member steps into the Olympic environment.  It is a privilege to be working with people I consider to be leading experts in their chosen field and in Performance Director Jan Bartu, women's head coach Istvan Nemeth and national fencing coach Frici Foldes that now extends to 12 years. Alongside them, we have with us specialists from the English Institute of Sport (EIS) in nutrition, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, performance psychology and sports medicine with us in France, not to mention sparring partners from other nations - a truly holistic support structure.

So who are the main contenders for the Modern Pentathlon at London 2012? Well, beyond our own athletes it is difficult not to look towards the Russian men who have won every world championships title since 2008, and the reigning women's Olympic champion Lena Schoneborn of Germany. After winning the European title in 2011 and the first World Cup in 2012 she went quietly under the radar for the rest of this season. This may be a conscious strategy to prepare without too much hype and simply deliver when it counts.  We're busy doing exactly the same thing.

I hope you'll all enjoy the Opening Ceremony tonight - we'll be in France, preparing to perform.