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The Selston sporting ace is aiming for a place in the 100m and 200m breaststroke in Japan this summer.

At her latest competition, the McCullagh International in Northern Ireland, Renshaw posted 2:26.79 in her main event, the 200m – just over a second outside the Olympic qualifying target of 2:25.52.

With two months of training to come she is well on track to win a place in the GB squad for Japan.

Four years ago in Brazil Renshaw was sixth in the 200m breaststroke final in 2:22.72, just 0.44 seconds off bronze medallist Shi Jinglin – and Russian Yulia Efimova, who competed after appealing against a doping ban, took the silver medal.

That followed the disappointment of her controversial exclusion from the London 2012 Olympics – Renshaw, then 16 was 0.83 seconds outside the qualifying standard when she won the 200m at the ASA National Championships, yet had met the qualifying time when finishing second at the first trial.

Those troubles seem well behind Renshaw now and, in an interview with the BBC, the swim ace said she felt more relaxed and confident than ever.

That seemed to be the case in December when she claimed silver in the 200m breaststroke at the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Glasgow.

"I was really happy with that," she said. "I hadn't raced short course for about two or three years but I have always enjoyed it.

"There is less pressure and it's more about skills. I am a quite skilful, technical swimmer. We wanted to see where I am and get confidence and that can translate to long course."

That success was part of a plan to be "brave" with her 200m pacing.

"At 23, every race is still a learning curve," she added. "My target this season is to make my first 150 metres the fastest ever. I know the final 50 will really hurt but I have to put myself out there."

In the 100m her progress has also been good as she aims to double up in Tokyo, with relays also a possibility. But first Renshaw knows she must meet what she describes as the "stupidly tough" times for Tokyo.​​​​​​