Steffen, 28, told dpa on Tuesday that she decided during a holiday after the disappointing London Olympics to continue, but mainly in the 50 metres freestyle.

“I will continue and concentrate on the 50m freestyle because I was quite successful there at the Olympics. I will also swim the 100m but with a lesser focus on it,” Steffen said.

Steffen won a 50m and 100m freestyle gold medal double at the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 world championships. But she managed no better than the 100m semi-finals at the recent London Games while coming a credible fourth in the 50m.

Steffen said she started training again on Monday and that “Berlin 2014 was always a major goal of mine” before doubts came after London.

The German said “I would like to win medals again” and depending on her success doesn’t rule out competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“It is definitely a dream to compete at the Olympics again. But my health must be right, I must have fun and success,” Steffen said.