Mitch Larkin has revealed how he was spurred on to five gold medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

FIVE gold hero Mitch Larkin has revealed he was driven to become Australia’s most successful swimmer at the Gold Coast Games after returning from last year’s world championships embarrassed at his performances.

FIVE gold hero Mitch Larkin has revealed he was driven to become Australia’s most successful swimmer at the Gold Coast Games after returning from last year’s world championships embarrassed at his performances.

Larkin headed to the world titles as defending champ in the 100m and 200m backstroke, but did not make the podium in either event and failed to even make the final of his pet 200m event, leaving his confidence shattered.

“I’ve got a lot of pride in the way I swim and in some ways I was embarrassed in representing myself on that world stage and not doing my country proud,” Larkin said.

“I was very low, (my) confidence was at an absolute low.”

Mitch Larkin with the five gold medals he won at the Commonwealth Games. Pics Adam Head

Having won the 200m backstroke in 2015 in 1min 53.58 sec, Larkin was left floundering in Budapest last year, finishing almost six seconds behind that time and questioning his swimming future.

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“I knew I’d pushed that time at training in DTs after a main set. It didn’t represent me as an athlete,” Larkin said.

Even at his lowest point though, Larkin never lost belief.

Larkin says he has rediscovered his confidence. Pics Adam Head

A meeting with Dean Boxall on his return from Budapest last year helped fuel the conviction he could return to the top.

While the pair may seem like the odd couple out of the water — Boxall all manic energy and pugnacious fervour and Larkin a picture of laid-back charm — their combination is magic.

The St Peters Western coach’s seemingly outlandish claim last year that Larkin could not only return to the peak of his powers but win five gold medals at the Commonwealth Games only fuelled the desire of a man convinced his best is yet to come.

Mitch Larkin celebrates alongside Jake Packard and Grant Irvine after winning gold in the 4x100m medley relay.

“I wouldn’t have met with Dean if I didn’t think I had more to give,” Larkin said.

“I haven’t reached my full potential, I don’t think yet and I love the sport.

“There hasn’t been one day in training over the last six months that I’ve hated.

“It’s been hard, it’s been tough but it’s been awesome.”

Larkin said he had learnt he could not escape the hard work.

Mitch Larkin on his way to another gold.

“I went away from it a little bit, I missed it and my confidence dropped because of it.

“For him to get me back to swimming at my best and swimming the way I love, it’s awesome and I think we’ve got some more stuff to come.”

Larkin’s five-gold effort falls just below Ian Thorpe’s six-gold effort in Manchester in 2002 — but even Thorpe can’t match Larkin on one front.

Thorpe was part of three gold medal-winning relays in Manchester, while Larkin’s haul included four individual wins, including a history-making treble in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke.

Mitch Larkin with his 200m individual medley gold medal.

While he was the superman of the swim team, Larkin is a realist and knows his times are not yet competitive on the world stage.

“I know I’m not swimming super-fast world class times at the moment but it’s all going to plan and obviously I’m building each swim from here to Tokyo (Olympics).

“It’s incredible, the week has been perfect.

“It’s certainly sparked my confidence again and I love the way I’m swimming and it’s fantastic.”

Originally published as Mitch Larkin has revealed how he was spurred on to five gold medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games