Veteran Kate Howey going for judo gold

She may regard herself as a golden oldie in judo terms, but Kate Howey is determined to put her vast experience to good use and end a glittering career with gold in this summer's Olympics. The 31-year-old Team Bath star believes she is fitter and stronger than ever before and is going into the championships in confident mood after a smooth preparation leading up to Athens.

In fact Howey's only real concern going into the Games is making sure she stays injury free ahead of her top-flight swansong.

"Every Olympics is different," said the former bronze and silver medallist.

"But having got a bronze and a silver all I want now is gold and I would not be going to Athens if I honestly thought I was not capable of taking it.

"Having said that any medal would be good, but I don't want to settle for that, I want that gold.

"The two to beat are probably the Dutch girl who is European champion, and the Japanese girl, who is world champion, but there is nobody there who I've not beaten before.

"I've just done some tests and I am the fittest I have ever been so I'm going into the Olympics in great shape.

"The only thing I've done differently from Sydney is reduce the amount of judo I've been doing.

"Because of my age, if I do get a knock it takes me longer to get over it so it's important I make sure I get to Athens in one piece."

Howey, who lives in Bath, has just returned from a training camp in Paris and will jet off to Barcelona tomorrow for a week-long training stint which she hopes will keep her ticking over nicely before the Olympics.

"The camp is just a massive punch up really," she added.

"My training is split half and half between judo and cardiovascular work and weights in the gym.

"It works out at around six or seven hours a day so it is pretty intense.

"But everything so far has gone to plan and it really helps having all the facilities on site at the university.

"It makes a big difference not having to travel half an hour to get to the judo hall or the gym and my preparation has really benefited as a result."

With such a hectic training schedule it is no surprise to hear that Howey makes full use of her spare time to relax.

"I just like flopping in front of the TV and going to watch films," she explained.

"I was a bit upset when I missed Emma leaving the Big Brother house this week, though!

"But the football is on at the moment and I'm really enjoying watching England."

Despite being billed as one of Britain's main medal hopes, Howey insists the weight of expectation does not overburden her broad shoulders and is looking forward to big performances from herself and her seven British teammates.

She added: "The only pressure I feel is the pressure that I put on myself.

"I suppose there's a bit of extra pressure because I'm 31 having won two previous medals and going into my last Olympics, rather being 21, but that's something I've got to cope with.

"I don't see myself as the only medal hope anyway, because we have a very strong squad for Athens.

"To qualify for the Olympics you have to be in the top five in the world or the top five in Europe so for us to have so many people competing shows what exceptional talent we have.

"Everybody who is going is capable of winning a medal and the confidence within the group is strong."

Howey's decision to retire after the Games has been taken after more than a decade of competing at the very top.

And with more than 12 medals - so far - in the bag, and an MBE for services to judo, she is looking forward to putting something back into the grassroots of the sport by taking on a coaching role.

"I don't think I'll give up right away, but the plan is to retire and coaching is something I would like to do," she said.

"It depends on what I am offered coaching-wise but I would like to stay in the Bath area."