In her first column for ESPN, Australian Olympian Emily Seebohm reflects on the experiences of the London Olympics, including her silver medal in the 100m backstroke, and the important lessons she learned there and at the 2015 world championships in Kazan that have her poised to race for gold in Rio de Janeiro.Four years ago, I was fast enough to win gold in the 100m backstroke at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.The trouble was, I swam a gold-winning time in my heat before touching the wall some 0.45 seconds slower in the final.Its a lesson Im determined to learn from at the Rio Games.Failing to win gold at London was really tough. At the time, I set my sights on gold and nothing else; that was all I wanted. If I didnt get that gold, it wasnt good enough. But I have another chance now. After four long years featuring thousands of hours of following that thin black line, I can finally make amends.The major lesson I took from London was the need to peak at the right time during an Olympics campaign. I cant go out and swim my fastest race in the heats again. I am so determined to get faster from the heats to the semis and then the final; thats something I didnt do in London, and its an area I can improve in.Race Smarter, Not HarderMy coach David Lush says I have to go out easier -- not easy, but easier -- as I sometimes go too hard and then it hurts me at the back-end if I die a bit because Ive worked so much harder going out. If I work smarter and go out a bit easier, then Im able to bring it home much more strongly.But its hard, because you want it so badly and you push yourself so much early; but it can end up hurting you when you need that reserve energy at the end and youve got nothing left to give.Relaxation Can Deliver ResultsI still love racing and I really enjoy big events like the Olympic Games, even more now than when I was younger. Before, it was daunting to go out and race against the rest of the world; but now I go out there feeling so much more confident inside myself because I know I can do it, and I dont have to over-think things.In fact, Ive never felt more relaxed at a major meet than at last years world championships in Kazan, Russia, where I won the 100m-200m double. It was a fantastic result and I know if I can go into this Olympics with the same mindset, Ive got some great results up my sleeve.I think, having done so well in Kazan, it means theres less pressure on me because I have that much more confidence now. That confidence gives me extra drive when I need it, and the mental strength I need when Im racing.Taking It All InThe four-year Olympic cycle brings with it so much pressure. But this is my third Olympics; Im ready to go and I just cant wait to compete.I know what to expect now. It gets crazy before an Olympics but I can just be in Rio and have fun and enjoy it.I need to take what I learned in Kazan into Rio and enjoy the experience. Its over so quickly and its only on every for years, so you have to enjoy it. And Im confident I can do better and improve from London.Im Taking Nothing For GrantedI never like to guess what may happen when the Games finally get underway. Who knows what will happen? Maybe Ill get sick or injured before I can start racing; I mean, Ive dislocated my kneecap riding a horse before, so anything can happen!But fingers crossed nothing like that happens. Ive worked so hard to get to this position. Ive made sure Ive put 100 percent in during every training session; if I didnt put in everything I had, then its a wasted session.So Im feeling confident both from a physical and mental sense; Ive got some brilliant support from my family -- mum, dad and two of my brothers will be in Rio, which will be amazing -- my coach, my boyfriend Mitch Larkin and so many others.Rivals On NoticeHonestly, I dont pay too much attention to my rivals most of the time. I do watch their trials to see who makes the teams but for me, when I line up against them, I often dont know a lot about whos up on the blocks with me.Of course, Ill know a few from having raced against them in the past, but you get so many surprises during an Olympic year and its hard to pick wholl be a winner in each race. So I dont get too worked up about anyone who may or may not be in my races.Saying that, though, I know that my Australian teammates Madi Wilson and Belinda Hocking, in the 100 metres and 200 metres respectively, are very strong.Outside my teammates, I think my biggest threat will be Denmarks Mie Nielsen. In previous years, shes flown out of the blocks with a fantastic first 50 but lost a bit of power in the back-end of a race; Im sure shes worked really hard to rectify that.Therell be plenty of quality contenders at Rio, but Ive picked Mie as my major threat outside the Aussies. Melvin Ingram Womens Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Mike Williams Chargers Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. http://www.prochargersteamstore.com/Youth-Philip-Rivers-Elite-Jersey/ . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Keenan Allen Womens Jersey .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Junior Seau Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. NEW YORK -- Giancarlo Stanton made Citi Field look small during a two-day power surge in one of his favorite ballparks. That wasnt enough for the Miami Marlins to win the series, though.Stanton hit two homers for the second consecutive day, but Wilmer Flores went deep twice for the New York Mets and Jacob deGrom pitched seven strong innings Wednesday in a 4-2 victory over Miami.Overall, it wasnt a very good trip, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.Finally on a serious tear at the plate following his long slump, Stanton reached 200 career homers and became the first major leaguer to connect in four straight at-bats since Albert Pujols in April 2006, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.I did not know that until a minute ago. So thats really cool, Stanton said. Im on top of the fastball. Thats what Ive been successful with. Its what I fell off of for a little while. So when youre on top of that, theres not much they can do.Stanton sent one of his loud drives Wednesday into the second deck in left-center and has seven home runs and 18 RBI over his past 18 games. The slugger also has eight long balls in his last 12 games at Citi Field.But the Mets nemesis struck out to start the ninth, ending his homer streak, and the third-place Marlins (44-41) finished 3-6 on their road trip. Chris Johnson struck out with the bases loaded to end the first, and Christian Yelich grounded into a double play with runners at the corners in the fifth.Curtis Granderson had a two-run single and Jose Reyes doubled twice for his first hits this season to help New York win for the sixth time in seven games. Reyes, a former Marlins shortstop, rejoined the Mets on Tuesday and went 0 for 4 in his first major league game since serving a 59-day domestic violence suspension.The second-place Mets took two of three from Miami ahead of a four-game showdown with the NL East-leading Nationals this weekend at Citi Field leading into the All-Star break.Following a 26-pitch first inning, deGrom (5-4) settled in and won his second straight start after going winless in his previous 10. The right-hander gave up six hits and struck out seven while throwing a season-high 117 pitches in his final scheduled outing before the break.This cats always got good stuff. He can pitch. This guy, he knows what hes doing. I thought we were OK with him, honestly, Mattingly said. We made him fight and then he ends up putting those two innings together late on us.dddddddddddd. He was good.Addison Reed worked a perfect eighth and All-Star closer Jeurys Familia got three outs for his major league-best 30th save. Pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki grounded into a game-ending double play, keeping him at 2,990 hits.Flores connected twice off left-hander Justin Nicolino (2-5), who fell to 0-5 in his last 10 major league starts. It was Flores fourth career multihomer game and second in four days, including a 6-for-6 performance Sunday against the Chicago Cubs.Nicolino allowed four runs and four hits over four innings in his second outing since getting recalled from Triple-A New Orleans last Friday.STREAK STOPPEDMarlins catcher J.T. Realmuto had hits in seven straight at-bats dating to Sunday night before striking out his first time up.IN THE CITIMiami won its previous three series at Citi Field, where Stanton has five of his 18 career multihomer games. His 17 homers at the ballpark are the most among active visiting players.Big city, bright lights, he said.Stanton joined Derrek Lee (June 2002) as the lone Marlins players with consecutive multihomer games. The only other major leaguer to do it this season was Boston outfielder Mookie Betts.That guy is unbelievable. Hes a powerful man, Reyes said of Stanton, a former teammate. Its unbelievable the way he hits the ball.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: 1B Justin Bour was put on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 3, with a sprained right ankle. Veteran utilityman Don Kelly was called up from Triple-A New Orleans and played first base in his first major league start since April 12, 2015. The 36-year-old Kelly is married to the older sister of Mets 2B Neil Walker, who twice threw out Kelly on grounders. ... 3B Martin Prado was rested.Mets: Struggling RHP Matt Harvey (4-10, 4.86 ERA) was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder discomfort. ... SS Asdrubal Cabrera was scratched from the lineup about 10 minutes before the first pitch. The team announced it was because a family illness kept him up all night.UP NEXTFollowing an off day, All-Star RHP Jose Fernandez (10-4, 2.69 ERA) starts Friday night at home against Cincinnati RHP Dan Straily (4-5, 4.34). Fernandez is 24-1 with a 1.48 ERA in his career at Marlins Park. ' ' '