ELENA Allen admits the pressure of a third Olympics nearly got the better of her in the build-up to Rio 2016.

But the skeet shooter from Caerphilly insists she has finally conquered her inner demons and is ready to prove her worth.

The 44-year-old has finished 14th in the last two Olympics but enjoyed a stellar 2013 and 2014 that saw her claim back-to-back World Championship medals as well as winning Wales a silver at the Glasgow Commonwealths.

But that impressive form has slipped of late and Allen has been left searching for answers alongside her coach and husband Malcolm.

“I have struggled mentally this year, that has been a bit hard, but I have turned a corner now,” she said.

“About a week to 10 days ago I had a serious chat to myself and I got as low as I can get and now I’m on the way up.

“I want to take the pressure off myself.

“Looking at my form, I wouldn’t be expected to do well and that’s good because I can relax.

“In London I was expected to (win a) medal.

“I have not had the best of seasons, but that is in the past, it’s whatever happens on the day now.

“There is no other way to approach it.

“Before the London Olympics I was on fire and just maybe the last round didn’t go very well and I allowed it to destroy me a little bit.

“But it doesn’t matter. If you are strong enough, you can make yourself perform.

“You are learning all the time.

“You are on a constant learning curve.

“I have been in the sport for many years but I am constantly learning.

“Negative experiences are good ones because you learn from them — like any other human being.”

Allen, who also competed in the Rio test event last year, has a bit of a wait before getting her Olympic campaign under way.

She will compete in the Skeet qualification — alongside compatriot Amber Hill — next Friday.

And while Hill, at only 18 years old, has attracted plenty of media attention in the build-up to the Games, Allen is happy to keep a low profile and focus on herself.

“Preparation has been long and hard, and the pressure is building up,” she added.

“My first target is to make the final.

“Like any competition, you have to make the final; you have to be in it to win it.

“And then from there I can get into the medal matches.

“I don’t think about the outcome, when you do then you struggle.

“You have to use the expression which shooters use all the time which is ‘always focus on the next target’.

“You can never think too far ahead.

“I was on the shooting range with my husband, who is my coach, and I had an emotional outburst and realised what was holding me back.

“I was thinking everything had to be right, but actually I should have been thinking about me.

“I am not doing it for anyone else, I am doing it for me.

“I just want to go and do my best.

“I want to make myself and my family proud.

“If I come away knowing I’ve done my best then I will be happy.”

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