OLYMPIAN Tonia Couch is relishing returning to competition and defending her national titles at the British Gas National Cup, which gets under way in Essex on Friday.

Couch doubled up, claiming gold in both the individual 10-metre platform and 10m syncho events at the Southend Swimming and Diving Centre in 2011.

Remarkably, given that she has already competed at the Beijing Olympic Games and established herself as one of the most consistent operators on the diving circuit, Couch's individual success from the top board last year was her first since 2007.

And make no doubt about it, the Great Britain and Plymouth Diving star is looking to do both again this time around, even though she can be forgiven for letting her thoughts drift towards London in the summer.

This year promises to be a defining point in the 22-year-old's already award-laden career, and much rests on the Plymothian's shoulders to do just that.

As the most successful British female diver of her generation, Couch is ready to embark on a pathway which the World, Olympic and Commonwealth Games diving finalist hopes will culminate in a medal at the London extravaganza.

The 2012 Games will be her second Olympic appearance following her qualification for Beijing in 2008.

Couch made the finals in both the women's individual and synchronised 10m platform events against the formidable Chinese squad on their home patch, in what is their national sport.

Now, as then, Couch was joined at the Games by her club and GB team-mate, Tom Daley, and the city-born pair will again be leading the host country's diving hopes in the capital in the summer.

The Central Park-based team of Daley, Couch, Brooke Graddon and the up-and-coming Ashley Hendrick, supervised as always by GB and Plymouth Diving coach Andy Banks, will all be on duty in Southend for the three-day national championships.

Couch's dive buddy at Southend will be Plymouth-produced diving talent and now Leeds-based, Sarah Barrow, who won a synchro gold last year, and who is also hoping to underline her Olympic claims in the coming months.

Long-time friends that they all are, Barrow, Graddon and Couch will have to settle for being the best of enemies for a hefty chunk of 2012, with so much at stake.

For Couch, though, it is all about getting back to what she loves best about her chosen sport – competition.

"It seems like so long ago that I was in a competition and so I can't wait to get going again this weekend," Couch told Herald Sport, who, with Barrow, just missed out on a synchro medal at the World Championships, at Shanghai, last year.

"Consequently, there's a lot of competitions coming up and so many things to be achieved for all the GB divers.

"I've been working very hard and am happy with my fitness and my form and, obviously, I'm thrilled at going to the nationals as a champion.

"Naturally, there is going to be a lot of interest in this competition because of the Olympics, and then it's the diving World Cup which comes up next month (at the London Aquatic Centre).

"And, I'm no different to anyone else, I want be a part of the GB diving squad in London – that would be a dream for any athlete.

"I had a good year in 2011 and was a finalist at the world champs and, with Sarah (Barrow), nearly won a bronze medal in the synchro. But, it's what's ahead that is important to me now."