The double Paralympic champion, who swims in the S6 category, kicked off her 2010 season by claiming gold at the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield at the end of last month.

But despite not producing her best times in her first competitive races of the year, Simmonds revealed that she is confident of hitting top gear in her two biggest meetings of 2010.

She told insideworldparasport: "It was great to race in Sheffield and I felt very strong considering that it was my first Championship of the year.

"I was about one second off my personal bests but that is not much of a surprise at this stage of the season.

"Coming into the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester next month though, I hope to be swimming as fast as ever in time for the IPC World Championship in Eindhoven."

Simmonds shot to stardom after her astonishing success at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics and the 15-year-old admits that she is happy that her popularity helps to lift the profile of disabled sport.

She said: "It was a bit weird straight after Beijing because people started recognising me in the streets and coming up to congratulate me but I’m starting to get use to it more now and I am glad that I can help promote disability sport.

"That is why I really enjoy events like the BT Paralympic World Cup because it gets so much media attention and is broadcast live on national television.

"I like talking to the media and things like that but I know that my swimming is the most important thing and that is why train so hard in the pool to be the very best I can be.

"Although I am really looking forward to the BT Paralympic World Cup, the IPC World Championships in August is the most important event of the year for me because I know that I will be racing the very best girls in the world in Eindhoven.

"The IPC World Championships are also a great marker for me to see where I am at ahead of the European Championships next year and then London 2012."

Simmonds concedes that she will be the poster girl of the London 2012 Paralympics but reiterated that she enjoys the publicity as well as the pressure that goes with the expectation.

She said: "I think pressure is a good thing because it makes me work harder and makes me want to perform even better.

"I know there will loads of pressure on me in London but I know that the pressure will make me perform even better.

"I have other competitions to think about before 2012 but London is always in the back of your mind because of how big the event will be in front of a home crowd.

"After Beijing, four years seemed like a really long time to go until London 2012 but two years have already passed by so quickly that I know it won’t be long until we are at the Games.

"I am really excited about London but right now I am trying not to think too far ahead so the BT Paralympic World Cup and the IPC World Championships are the main things on my mind right now."

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