"Helen is the favourite," Hewitt says. "She has that pressure from the media, especially as it is her home Olympic Games. She won on the London course [at the practice event] last year."
Hewitt is not daunted.
"The media probably push those individual battles more than the athletes. I also have to be aware of the top 20 women on the start line rather than just one.
"I have had my best races when the best athletes are competing. It might sound strange but together the best all-rounders can take the pure runners out of the mix by working hard in the swim and bike."
Hewitt tries to concentrate on the status of the race rather than fellow competitors.
"During the first 5km of the run I focus on controlling my breathing and my running form. Then, when it gets closer to the finish, I watch what is happening around me. I look at which of my competitors is looking the freshest and decide what to do from there."
* * *
Lisa Carrington became the first New Zealand women's kayaking world champion last year in Hungary. Her K1 200m event is debuting at the Olympics. Carrington remains a gold medal contender after finishing second by 0.096s at the most recent World Cup in Duisburg. She was behind three-time Olympic champion Natasa Douchev-Janics of Hungary, who was on maternity leave last year.
Carrington spoke to the Herald on Sunday from Munich where she is putting the final touches to her Olympic preparation. She says the rivalry with the Hungarian is new but welcome.
"That World Cup event is the only time I've raced Natasa so there's no real history between us. She is an amazing competitor who will be tough to beat but I'm stoked to be that close. With drive and determination I can make that up."
Carrington has no real watchwords for the final stages of a race which is expected to be over within 40 seconds.
However, the odd mental thought passes fleetingly now and then when she's neck and neck with rivals.
"Over the last 50m I'm just driven to go harder. I cut a deal with myself to give it everything and be prepared to suffer.
"The big thing is to train every day and set up as you would race. It's all about habit. I try not to over-analyse it. It means maintaining an efficient technique and getting power in the stroke by co-ordinating your leg drive with your catch [the water caught by the paddle]."
Carrington's rise has been rapid, given she only took up the sport in 2007.
"There are various stats and everyone has an opinion about how long it takes to get up to speed as a professional athlete. It is good to have defied some of those to reach my own limits."
