Kane thrives on workload | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

As the days and hours tick down for Kane Radford's chances to make the New Zealand swim team for this year's London Olympics, the pressure doesn't seem to be getting to the 21-year-old.

In fact, it seems to be making him a better and more mature swimmer.

Back home in Rotorua for Swim New Zealand's high-performance group training camp, Radford feels fitter and stronger than he has for some time.

This comes off the back of another win at the State Ocean Swim Series held at Akaroa at the weekend.

Currently sitting fourth in the championship behind Stefan Talbot, Jay Cadman-Kennedy and Jonathan Whittle, Radford won the 2.8km race in a time of 30min 9sec, ahead of Casey Glover 30min 30sec, and Jonathan Pullon 30min 35sec.

The victory gets Radford's overall title chances back on track after finishing third in the previous round in Wellington when he missed the final turning buoy.

Radford's busy schedule, which includes getting ready for his Olympic qualifying swim in Portugal in June, doesn't seem to be affecting the open water swimmer - in fact he's relishing the pressure.

"It's been good to get out and have a good thrash around and a wild and heavy workload.

"I guess I will be disappointed if I don't make [the Olympics]. But you know, I don't see it so much as pressure. I feel within myself I can do it, so why not?"

Radford said this week's training camp had been geared to June's final qualifying race in Portugal, where nine swimmers will earn an Olympic start in the 10km open water contest.

"So we're just getting into heavy miles trying to get as many kilometres done as possible."

Making sure he is in peak performance for Portugal as well as trying to retain his Open Water and, fingers crossed, peaking for the Olympics means a fine balancing act for the Rotorua swimmer.

"You can't afford to peak for the open water swims and expect to peak again in June and, if you are successful, peak for a third time in London," Radford said.

"I have faith that I am in good shape and that I've done the work. Now I just have to put that into practice."

Training with the high-performance group has been a huge bonus for Radford.

"With the help of Mark (Regan) [high-performance coach] he's taught me new things and new ways to look at things.

"I'm in the best shape I've ever been and I've got the most confidence I've ever had. So I can't see why anything should stop me."

The high-performance squad continue their training in Rotorua until Friday.