Stephanie Rice has revealed her frustrations over the shoulder injury that has left her London preparations under a cloud, saying she would not be still swimming if the Olympics weren’t looming.

Rice returned to competition at the NSW championships on Friday for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery in December to repair a torn tendon in her right shoulder.

The 23-year-old was happy with two solid swims, clocking 4 minutes 42.29 seconds to finish second in Friday night’s 400m individual medley final behind Sam Hamill (4:40.21).

Rice said her troublesome shoulder came through the race OK and she would consider racing in Sunday’s 200m individual medley as she builds towards next month’s Olympic trials in Adelaide.

Rice admitted she was facing the biggest challenge of her career and hinted at regrets over having the shoulder operation, saying she still felt varying levels of pain when training and racing.

“I’m just trying to manage it as best as I can,” Rice said after finishing third fastest in the heats.

“When I tore the tendon, they can’t repair the tendon because it’s a six month rehab, so I obviously didn’t have time for that.

“They just basically went in and cleaned it up as best as they could and I don’t know if that was the best option to have surgery right now because it didn’t really do anything.

“But I had a cortisone (injection) a few weeks ago and that really seems to have settled it down a bit … hopefully it will hold together for these last couple of weeks before the Olympic trials.”

Rice claimed three gold medals in a brilliant display at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after what she described as a perfect preparation.

The build-up to London has been anything but and Rice said only the lure of Olympic competition was keeping her going.

“I think if this wasn’t an Olympic year I would have pulled out of the year because it’s just been the most frustrating journey,” she said.

“I guess everything I’m doing right now is hopefully making my character stronger.

“It’s been very frustrating, especially in an Olympic year, the most exciting year of everything and I’m just trying to do everything I can to get myself on the team.”

Rice, who is undecided if she will continue swimming beyond London, said she was determined not to let the frustrations cruel her Olympic hopes.

“I think I’m past the point of being worried,” she said.

“I can’t really change anything that’s happened I’m just trying to deal with the situation as best as I possibly can.”