I have to confess I was slightly worried about how our swimmers, who were so successful last summer in Beijing, would perform at the British Championships in Sheffield this week.

My concern was that this event, which doubles as the trials for the World Championships, are so early in the season. The Worlds in Rome are more than four months away.

After an Olympic Games, the athletes notoriously take longer breaks from training as they reflect not just on the season but on the previous four-year cycle, as they plan the next four years with their coaches.

It is a time for them to take stock, savour what they have achieved and mentally prepare for the commitment and hard work that will be required when they get back in the pool.

This time round there was added pressure for our five Olympic medallists, who have had to deal with unprecedented media interest. For double golden girl Rebecca Adlington, last summer's exploits have been life-changing.

All this could have been the recipe for average performances from our Olympic team and the chance for new faces to shine.
I needn't have given it a second thought. Day one in Sheffield was all about our Olympic medallists and they have raised their game.

Step up Joanne Jackson, bronze medallist in Beijing for the 400m freestyle, now the new world-record holder. She took nearly a second off Federica Pellegrini's previous world best and beat our Olympic champion into second place.

Don't fret that the best of Becky Adlington is behind her or that last year was a fluke. She swam her fastest time by two seconds and was also under the old world record. Our girls are now the fastest two in the world at this event and showed that they have not lost their motivation or determination as they battled head-to-head over the eight lengths.

David Davies, who took the silver medal in a gruelling 10K open water race in Lake Shunyi last year, was in the pool for the 400m freestyle, an event that must now feel like a sprint.

His weakness in the past has been his lack of speed which was no more apparent than during his 1500m final in Beijing where he could not stay on terms with the likes of Grant Hacket and Park Tae Hwan. Clearly David has listened and he stormed to a new British record, smashing David Carry's old mark by nearly two seconds.

The fact that the next Olympic Games are in London has no doubt kept some swimmers in the sport who might otherwise have retired, but I was expecting to be talking about new names and youngsters bursting on to the scene.

It looks like they might have to wait for another year as our 2008 Olympians aren't ready to pass the baton.