As a kid, Lauren Boden used to do handstands before taking to the starting blocks.
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It's her relaxed and confident approach that has convinced coach Matt Beckenham she is poised to perform on the Olympic Games stage.
Boden will race in the 400-metre hurdles on Monday morning and her goal is to make the semi-finals and then ''have a crack from there''.
Making the event even bigger is that Boden turned 24 on Friday.
It's a long way from the Canberra track when, as a junior, Boden would be relaxed before her races while her competitors were trying to overcome nerves.
But even in front of 80,000 people in London, Beckenham doesn't expect Boden to crumble under the pressure.
''I don't think you'll see her doing handstands these days,'' Beckenham said. ''She's a very bubbly and charismatic girl … she definitely oozes a confidence and that's what I try to instil in her.
''You need to be confident and I think she's got the temperament which enables her to run well at major championships, and I'm sure that will be the case again.''
Beckenham and Boden have been tinkering with her running style over the past year.
The major change has been trying to reduce her steps from 15 to 14 between hurdles.
It's a goal Boden has almost been able to achieve, but the duo has made the decision to stick with a comfortable style at the Olympics.
''The 14 strides just wasn't quite right yet,'' Beckenham said.
''We're in that little period where in another 12 months she will have progressed to the 14-stride pattern, we've spoken about it for a while.
''The 15-stride is comfortable. There's an unknown about doing 14. She could do it and run it well, but at this stage the last thing we need is an unknown, a tension and something else to worry about.
''The key to be setting her up is letting her run efficiently, letting her run that first 200m without really even thinking about it.''
And in a boost for the Beckenham Canberra stable, Athletics Australia
has helped the coach track down some tickets so he can be in the stadium to watch his athletes.
Beckenham was expecting to have to watch on the big screen at the warm-up track when he didn't get accreditation.
But Athletics Australia officials helped out with tickets so he didn't miss the experience he has been working for with Breen, Cole and Boden for years.
Beckenham admitted to nerves and excitement ahead of his Olympic return. He raced in the 400m hurdles at the Sydney Olympics and now spends his time trying to mould the next generation.
''You have your moments, sit down and say 'wow, I've got three athletes on the team', and I feel proud that these guys are there,'' Beckenham said.
''There's something about being an Olympic athlete that you have that legacy for the rest of your life.''