She failed to achieve her personal bests, competing mostly against herself, but six of her seven gold medals came with new SAF records. ``It is not that I was not motivated. It was gold I came here for, not personal best timings. There was no one to push me anyway,'' the 17-year-old admitted.

However, the Bangalore freestyle swimmer is determined to slash her timings soon, so that she can compete at the international level, with the best.

Nisha was recently awarded a US$1200 scholarship from the International Olympic Committee and she will be leaving for the Phoenix Swimming Club in the US. ``Greats like Garry Hall Jr, Jon Olsen and John Davis have trained there. It's going to be something,'' she gushed.

But she had plans to train in Australia? ``Yes, that isvery much on the agenda. I'm planning a one-year stint in Australia, sometime after the Sydney Olympic Games. The Australian coaches are not free now,'' she said.

Nisha slashed 8 seconds off her personal best in 200 freestyle at the Asia Pacific meet held recently in New Delhi, and is hoping to touch 2.06secs soon in the 200 freestyle. She is also concentrating on 400 freestyle.

Her immediate plans are to improve upon the freestyle timings of Trinidad-born Indian Sangeeta Rani Puri, who has stopped competing to concentrate on higher studies. Nisha has already improved upon Puri's backstroke records. ``I have been motivated by Sangeeta's swimming. I met her a month back and asked her to compete with me. I would have improved much more by now if Sangeeta were still around,'' Nisha said.

Nisha's parents have sacrificed a lot for their daughter's passion. They shifted from Madras to Bangalore two years ago so that Nisha could get better coaching at the Basavagudi Swiming Complex. Their struggle has not beenin vain as even their younger daughter, 15-year-old Reshma, is coming up fast. Sibling rivalry? ``Naah, it's great fun swimming against her. She is coming along well,'' Nisha said.