"I stopped swimming the event for a period of time," said Walshe. "It always kind of defined me, the 200 fly, and I needed to step away from it to gain confidence back on the world stage after a tricky junior level of the event. I just didn't enjoy it. "I took up the IM, saw success in that, and never went back to the 200. "I always trained well for it, I just didn't enjoy putting the race together on the day. Nerves always got the better of me as a junior athlete in that particular event. "So to enjoy the event now, well, I don't enjoy it… I just enjoy doing different things. For me to do the same thing, I just struggled with it a bit, and I didn't see… I wasn't progressing in the event. I just wasn't getting anything I wanted out of the event. "My mental attitude is completely different to when I was a 17-year-old athlete. I'm 23 now, I have two Olympics under my belt, and I can flip the switch in my brain. "When I went to Leinsters, I said, you only have to do it once. Just do it once." Walshe made an Olympic final in the 400m individual medley in Paris but quickly moved on. "I haven't really thought too much about the Olympics. It’s been and gone. I don't really remember much of it. "I remember walking into the final of the 400 IM and just being like, I made it. And then the minute I touched the wall and saw 4:40, I was like, hmm, it's not what I wanted. "But you're never really satisfied. Well, I'm not yet. That's why I was eager to get back in the water and prove to myself that I had more to give in the sport." Walshe is a natural-born racer, who likes to pack as many events as possible into a meet. The Irish Open, from April 12-16, will be typically busy with entries in five events, including the 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle, and 200m and 400m individual medley. "The more events you have, the tougher it does become. Like Worlds, I got one morning off, and that was it out of a six-day meet. "It's a lot on the body and then you have a nice, lovely 400 to finish the meet… It's one of the toughest events and it's not easy to do on the last day when you're already beat up and broken." Walshe feels she thrives off of that variety, though. "I did my first race at seven years old, that's 16 years ago now, and I'm still competing. I probably enjoy the sport a lot more now than I ever did. "I absolutely love what I do every day. I love my job. It's amazing. It's so different, and every day is different as well. "I have different sets. It’s in the same pool, but I do have different sets, and I think it's enjoyable. I get to travel the world with it as well so it’s pretty cool." There's more of a buzz around Irish swimming since the Olympics and Walshe has noticed some extra attention for her exploits. "In my own neighbourhood, you’d be recognised. You can see people pointing at you, or you're in the shop, and the kids are like, it’s her, it’s definitely her. "It is nice to see that you are being recognised and supported along the way. It can be a tough journey, and it's nice to have people to be there for you." Walshe is off to Florida later this month to compete in the last TYR Pro meet of the year, which will make for an exciting marker ahead of Worlds in July. "I definitely have two to three events I can qualify internationally. "The short milestone is to hopefully qualify for Worlds officially, put some times on the board this week, and just enjoy the meet. "I enjoy racing. Especially this year, the pressure is off. Like the Olympics is over so you're starting on a clean slate again." And beyond that? "I definitely want to do some travel. I don't know if I'll be still based in Ireland in three, four, or five years' time. I'm not sure. But for the moment, I'm definitely here for the next two years in Templeogue, just seeing how fast I can get."