A year ago, kayaker Fabien Lefevre had a broken bone in his wrist and was nursing a bruised ego.

Strong favourite to win gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Frenchman had finished with a bronze medal. Lefevre's failure upset him badly and he kept away from the circuit for two years during which time he married a top model and had a young son Noe who will turn two on August 8, the day of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Lefevre, now fit and mentally revived, has promised his family, and the other French kayakers he beat to qualify for the Games, that this time he will return with the gold.

"I am ready for Beijing. I feel good and I deserve this title," Lefevre said recently.

Throughout his career, Lefevre - nicknamed Fabulous Fab - has been known for his confidence and independent spirit as well as skill on the water.

Worst enemy

He had the perfect run-up to the Athens Games by winning the world championship in K-1 (single kayak) in 2002 and 2003, and was rated one of France's great gold medal hopes.

However, living in the Olympic village and watching the other competitors ate away at Lefevre's confidence and it was compatriot Benoit Peschier who returned to Paris with the gold.

The next two to three years were a struggle for LeFevre. He kept away from top flight competition and the 25-year-old admits now he was his own worst enemy. He entered the world championships in 2006 where he came fifth and once again it was a compatriot, Julien Billaut, who took gold. "That was a first smack in the face," Lefevre said.