Despite setbacks and difficulties, swimmer Britta Steffen is back to represent Germany for the third time in the Olympic games. Her seeming inability to improve despite all the intense training she was receiving prompted Britta to see a psychologist.

Learning to separate swimming from the rest of her life, Britta’s clear head helped her heap on the successes. Competing at the 2006 European Championships, she recorded the fastest relay split ever in the 4×100m free relay. She followed this up with three more gold medals and two more world records.

Despite all her successes, she remains humble. Aware of Germany’s history of doping, she signed up for the ‘blood passport’ program to help her face any accusers.