TORONTO (2016 Rio Olympics) - Thinking back to the 2012 Olympics, Natalie Achonwa admits that she and Canada were really just happy to participate. However, four years on, the North Americans feel they deserve their spot at the Rio 2016 Games and are looking to finishing on the podium.

Canada needed to go through the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) in 2012 and were the final team to book their ticket to London - beating Japan in the decider after losing to Croatia in the Quarter-Finals.

"We were happy to be [at London 2012]. It was tough because being the competitors that we are, we kept telling ourselves we are not just showing up. We qualified on Canada Day (July 1) so there was a lot of magic in that as well," Achonwa recalled. "But in reality we weren't necessarily prepared for it. I know we were happy to be there because we weren’t supposed to be there."

Achonwa and Co. won't have such worries this summer as they took care of business last year by winning the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship.

"Now we're to the point, we've come a long way in these last four years. Now we just deserve to be there. It’s exciting to be at a point where we are confident going into a big tournament," said Achonwa, who was just 19 years old at London 2012.

I’m confident in saying that I want a medal. And I know that the rest of the players on the team are confident in saying that too. A medal is the goal. We’re going in looking for a medal. - Achonwa

The Indiana Fever forward, who is currently rehabbing from a knee injury, said it makes a major difference from 2012 that Canada have already locked up a spot in the Olympics.

"It gives you a different mindset going into the summer. Just like last summer when we knew our big tournament was [the] FIBA Americas [Women's Championship], we were able to train and peak at the right time and prepare for our end goal. Now it’s similar this summer knowing we are already in the Olympics. We can train and peak and really focus on Rio as our goal," said the 23-year-old.

Canada have reached two straight Olympics, but their last top-four showing dates back to 1984. And the country has never won a medal.

We had a small taste of the podium last summer with [the] FIBA Americas [Women's Championship]. To be on the podium in Rio and bring home a medal would be the ultimate win for us. - Achonwa

Achonwa expects the Olympic experience to be different from her debut in 2012. But she said that having been in London will be a major help for her and the team in Rio.

"The fact that many of us have been there before doesn't lighten the fact that it's the Olympics. We're taking part in an event that few people can say they have participated in. So that remains the same. That magic of representing our country at one of the biggest sports events in the world remains the same," she explained.

That experience will help in taking the awe level down a little bit to focus a bit better but it will still be a magical event. - Achonwa

One of Canada's real strengths is a mix between veteran leaders such as Kim (Smith) Gaucher, Tamara Tatham, Liz Murphy and Shona Thorburn and young and up-and-coming players such as herself, the 23-year-old twins Katherine and Michelle Plouffe, and 20-year-old Kia Nurse.

"We have a good mix and balance between experience and youth. Our younger players bring a new light and energy, and we have our vets who have been there and can put that light of experience on our younger players to see different perspectives," said Achonwa, who has already played seven tournaments for the Canadian senior team.

Achonwa, who debuted with the senior national team in 2009 as a 16-year-old at that year's FIBA Americas Women's Championship in Brazil, expects the level of competition in Rio to be very high with the United States and Australia the top powerhouses.

Still, she said Canada are only worried about themselves.

We’re really just trying to focus on ourselves and the details and little things that we can take care of. If you look at individual stat sheets, the US have some of the best players in the world. Their entire roster plays in the WNBA. - Achonwa

"But that doesn't change the fact that as a collective, our team can compete against the best teams in the world. And that's always been our niche - how well we play together. That's the only way it can be and it will be. And that's part of Canada basketball, the unity and love and passion and pride," she concluded.

FIBA