Dafne Schippers has already shown she can thrive in a major championship and believes retaining her composure will be key as she seeks to secure sprint glory at the Olympic Games.

Schippers will face high expectations in Rio, having produced arguably the standout performance of last year's IAAF World Championships in Beijing.

In her first year competing solely as a specialist sprinter, the former heptathlete - a bronze medallist in the seven-discipline event at the 2013 World Championships - pipped Elaine Thompson to gold at the Bird's Nest Stadium by finishing strongly in a thrilling 200m final.

Only two women - the late Florence Griffith-Joyner and self-confessed drug cheat Marion Jones - have topped the time of 21.63 seconds that saw Schippers earn her maiden world title.

If her performance at the Bird's Nest was not exciting enough, there is a feeling Schippers, who turned 24 in June and also claimed 100m silver in Beijing, still has more to offer following her relatively recent decision to give up the heptathlon.

The leading light of Dutch athletics could perhaps be forgiven, therefore, for feeling under pressure as the 2016 Games draw near.

Yet she is confident she can remain calm and controlled as she seeks to take her career to new heights.

"In Rio I think [it is best to] stay relaxed, do your training and stay relaxed in your head," Schippers told Omnisport.

"I hope to go for the medals in the 100 and 200 metres.

"For the 100, my start is very important because it is not the best part of my race. And [I need to] stay relaxed for the last 30 metres.

"I think in the 200 you need to stay relaxed for the whole race, take the time to make your steps. The start is not that important, which is better for me.

"Stay relaxed, that's the thing that works for me."

Schippers is considered a genuine contender for two gold medals in Rio, although the longer sprint - for which she holds the fastest time in the world this year having clocked 21.93 in Oslo in June - appears her stronger suit.

"I like more the 100 but I think the 200 is better for me," she acknowledged when asked which event she favours.

The Utrecht-born sprinter has already experienced an Olympic Games, albeit under far less scrutiny than she is likely to face this time around.

At the age of 20, she finished 11th in the heptathlon at London 2012.

On that occasion, Schippers was happy to simply be present on such a grand stage, but things will be different in Rio.

"It was very special for me to take part in the 2012 Olympics. I think I was 20 years old and it was very special and really nice to stay there [in London]," she added.

"Now I have a new goal, to go for the medals this year."