“Even just looking around and seeing the five rings. That will be enough of a buzz” – Hyland

BRENDAN Hyland is excited to see what he can produce in Tokyo now that the pressure of trying to qualify for the Olympic Games has been lifted from his shoulders.

The Tallaght Swimming Club and National Centre competitor, is confident he has every chance of serving up some surprises on the biggest stage, just as he did at the 2019 World Championship on South Korea when he finished 11th in the 200m Butterfly.

Indeed it was his time of 1:56.55 in those championships that earned him a FINA ‘B’ invitation to the Olympics two years later – one that Swim Ireland accepted as they struggled to fill their Men’s 4x200m Freestyle team for the Games.

Now poised to step out on the block in Tokyo, firstly for the 200m Butterfly on Monday followed by the 4x200m relay the next day, the Knocklyon man insists he will not be fazed by the level of opposition he will be up against.

“The big stage doesn’t bother me. I think I sometimes excel on it” he told The Echo.

“At the World Championships [in 2019] I didn’t feel any pressure. I felt like this was where I was supposed to be.

“I don’t know what it is, but I always find it easier once I go to an international.

“I find more pressure in Dublin because it’s always just been a kind of mindset not to lose and I find that tough, whereas when I go abroad, I’m out in Lane One or Two and nobody is expecting the Irish fella to do anything.

“So rather than pressure, it’s excitement to see what I can actually do.

“And on the big stage, mad things can happen. People who are ridicuously fast can drop backwards and also people who have low seeding times can PB and shoot up.

“I was about 30th on the list going into the World Championships, but you drop .1 of a second and you shoot up to 10th or 11th and you’re into the semi finals.

“So I’m just going to let it all sink in and focus on what I can do. I’m excited.”

While appreciating the atmosphere in Tokyo is sure to be a lot different to previous Olympics because of covid restrictions, Hyland insists his motivation will come from simply knowing he is representing his country at the highest level.

“I don’t have another Olympics to compare this one to, so I’m not going to really notice that” he said.

“I remember, my dad, in fairness, flew out to Korea in 2019 and obviously I saw him, but I walked out for my semi final and I looked over and all I saw was a massive crowd. I couldn’t even see him so I just waved in that direcetion.

“But you know everyone will be watching at home so I suppose you just remember that.

“Even just looking around and seeing the logo, seeing the five rings. That will be enough of a buzz. Just to look at that and go ‘Wow! We’re there.’ It will be great.

“There are nine of us [swimmers]. It’s a big team and it’s cool. I think we’ll just feed off each other’s energy. Everybody’s in it together” he said.