Ai Shibata made history in 2004, becoming the first Japanese female swimmer to capture a gold medal in an Olympic freestyle race. In her mind, though, her triumph in the 800-meter freestyle at the Athens Olympics is, well, ancient history.
Refreshingly, as if to shun what many others would say in a similar situation, Shibata dismisses the notion that her victory in Athens will give her a boost in Beijing in August.
"I don't really think whether I can utilize it or not," Shibata said. "It's the same Olympics, but there was an Athens atmosphere and there will be Beijing's atmosphere. I would rather go there (to Beijing) as if it's my first time in an Olympics.