Windsurfer Bryony Shaw thrives on adrenaline, which is a good job because her three Olympic appearances neatly punctuate a rollercoaster eight years.

Shaw, 33 from Tunbridge Wells, made her debut in Beijing and won bronze, admitting she ‘rode the coattails’ of a star-studded team that included the like of four-time gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie.

But in London, with friends and family watching from the shore in Weymouth, she finished seventh, after she’d been laid low for six months in advance by a bug she picked up sailing in polluted waters off Spain.

And, to make matters worse, windsurfing was then dropped from the Rio schedule in preference to kitesurfing. It looked a miserable end to an Olympic career that had started so brightly.

“When I look back at London, whilst I loved being part of that amazing team and that amazing summer, I felt a bit detached from the experience,” she said.

“Everyone was smiling and there was such a buzz and that reminded me what it was like in Beijing but I was just disappointed about my performance and everything that happened in the build-up.

“I tried kitesurfing for a while but, while some skills were transferable, I’d spent my life focussed on windsurfing and it was hard to be motivated.

“When windsurfing was reinstated I knew immediately where I was going again – it was back to business and onto Rio.

“This feels like another chance now, especially after all the setbacks. A gold medal is everything I want but firstly I want to feel that I’ve competed the best I can, lets see where that takes me.”

Shaw won silver at the World Championships that followed London and has been a podium regular on the ISAF World Cup circuit since.

She is ranked number one in the world, with Dutch sailor Lilian De Geus the only person to have knocked off her that spot in recent months. Spain’s Marina Alabau, whom Shaw narrowly beat to bronze in Beijing, will also be dangerous in Rio and is defending the gold medal she won in London.

All of which sets up what could be a sea battle to remember – with the early skirmishes this afternoon – on the waters off Marina de Gloria.

“I think I’m coming in with lots of self-belief,” adds Shaw.

“All those ups and down, trials and tribulations, hopefully they’ve been worth it and made me a stronger competitor.

“You have to cherish these experiences and I love this sport. We’ve got a great sailing team with world and European champions and so much potential. It’s about performing now and making sure we leave with our heads high.”