Logan Martin remains supremely confident that if he can nail his runs, he is the man to beat in BMX freestyle at the Paris Olympics.
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The 30-year-old from the Gold Coast won Australia's only cycling gold medal at the Tokyo Games when he dominated competition in freestyle's Olympic debut.
But after finishing runner-up to French star Anthony Jeanjean at the first Olympic qualifier in Shanghai this year, Martin had a significant setback last month at the second qualifier in Budapest.
He only managed 17th in qualifying and did not make the final, won again by Jeanjean.
There was never any doubt Martin would qualify, but his Budapest result and the foot injury that had disrupted his preparations this year have meant he suddenly looks beatable in Paris.
"He (Jeanjean) has obviously had some good results this year," Martin said.
"But I don't really think about who could do well, I just try to focus on my best performance.
"I know if I can go out there and do my best run, it's going to be really hard to beat. I definitely don't doubt that and I know I can go out there and put on a solid performance.
"Whether these other guys do their best run or not, if I can go out there and do my best run, it will top the field."
Martin has been in Brussels, finalising his preparations before the Paris competition on July 30-31.
He needed time off before Budapest to make sure the foot injury had settled and he said that showed in his result there.
"It's a funny thing - it's one of my favourite places to visit, I've been there a few times, and I've had literally the two worst results in my 11-year career (there)," he said of the Hungarian capital.
"But it's just the way it went.
"It obviously didn't work out and I wasn't able to (have) my runs in Budapest, but I was able to get home and go straight back to training without being injured. I feel myself again."
It is part of Martin's folklore that he built a replica of the Tokyo track at his home, to help nail his Olympics preparation.
That was impossible for Paris, as the track details were only made available at the start of this month.
But Martin has new tricks up his sleeve.
"I'm confident ... the sport is obviously growing and I'm able to increase my own ability as well," he said.
"If all goes to plan in Paris, my best finals run will have some new tricks."
Australian Associated Press
