Five years ago Campbell Walsh flew back from Athens with a silver medal and a tonne of regrets.

Last year he returned from Beijing with only dirty laundry but he insists he would not have done anything different

The 31-year old Scot was considered a medal banker after beating all his main rivals to win the European title earlier in the year.

But in the cruellest of sports, where one mistake is the difference between first and last, he finished a disappointing 15th and failed to advance to the final run, which decided the medals.

"In Athens I felt I didn't do myself justice, despite winning silver," said Walsh, at the Edinburgh launch of a scheme, backed by London 2012 sponsors Lloyds TSB, to fund young sporting talent.

"But Beijing just didn't go right on the day and in our sport that happens - there were a lot of big names that crashed out - it was a very technical demanding course with no margin for errors.

"I have no regrets with my approach or preparations, things just didn't go my way."

Walsh took a three-month break after returning home but soon found the urge to get back on the water.

And with the defence of his European title on the home waters of his Nottingham training base later this month, he is brimming with renewed confidence.

"The European Championship is the only major title I have won. I have got silvers and bronzes on big occasions at the Olympics and World Championships but the Euro's is the only gold I have got and I'd like to keep it," he added.