Slovenian swimmer Nastja Govejsek faced world best swimmers at the London Olympic Games in 2012, but she was equally enthusiastic about her appearance at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

"The Youth Olympic Games will be as challenging for me as the London Games. The athletes here are fast, agile and very talented. I cannot afford to get complacent," the 17-year-old said Friday.

"I will try my best to make my country proud. If I am able to do well here, I will know that I am on the right path. It will really help my swimming by boosting my self-esteem and morale."

She took part in the women's 100m freestyle at London but only managed a 28th-finish in the heat.

"Everyone in London was older than me. In Nanjing, I can bond with people who belong to the same age group with me," said the girl. "I can sit down with them, talk to them and learn from them. This is my first and last chance at such a wonderful event and I am going to make the most of my time here."

"London was an eye opener for me. I was competing against the best swimmers in the world. I have learnt a lot from that experience and have been working very hard to improve my performance after that," she said. "I want to keep evolving as a swimmer."

She said she enjoyed the Nanjing Youth Games so far.

"I am loving the Games so far. It feels very different from the main Olympics. The focus is not just on competition but also about having a good time, making friends and sharing stories. It is cosier here," she said. Endit

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