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Raise Your Game: How did you first get involved in swimming?

Liam Tancock: I started at a 'learn to swim' scheme when I was about five-years-old. I did it to learn water safety, but it was fun and I loved the water. I went to a club, moved up through the ranks and got better and better before taking part in my first national championships.

RYG: You've accomplished a great deal in your career so far. What sacrifices have you made to get to where you are?

LT: 'Sacrifice' seems like such a strong word to me because I wouldn't say I've sacrificed anything. If I didn't enjoy what I do, I wouldn't do it. I might have missed out on a few things when I was younger and growing up. If there was a birthday party or a gathering and I was at training and couldn't make it, then I guess I might have missed out on a few things, but I wouldn't see them as sacrifices because I love what I do so much. I feel I've made the right choices in the way I've lived my life.

RYG: What does it take to become a world class sportsperson?

LT: It takes a lot of dedication, but most of all I just have fun! You've got to put a lot of hard work in and it's not just in the swimming pool. You've got to look after yourself, you've got to sleep well and you've got to recover between the sessions, whether that's resting or getting the right food inside you. I always try to get the best out of myself and strive for perfection.

RYG: Could you describe a typical week's training?

LT: I do ten sessions in six days. Each pool session is two and a half hours long and I do three one hour and fifteen minutes weight sessions a week. There's a lot of action and a lot of physical exercise going on throughout!

RYG: How do you prepare mentally for a competition?

LT: I try to relax and enjoy it. I don't really get nervous, I get excited! I love training, but my main excitement comes from when I'm racing and the better the standard of people I'm racing, the more excited I get and the more 'up for it' I get. You've got to focus and understand that what you've done in training is the best that you could possibly do. Once you've done that you can really settle down and let your body take over.

RYG: Does it give you confidence to know that you have a great team of experts helping to bring the best out of your performances in the pool?

LT:I've got a great team behind me and I've also got my family supporting me. My coach is fantastic. He's done a great job and I have the utmost faith in him taking me where I want to be, but it's not just my coach. I've got a strength and conditioning coach, a weights coach, but I've also got a nutritionist, a physiotherapist and a masseur available to me if I need it. It's quite a good network. I've also got sports scientists who record the technical information, so that, after the race, we can analyse the video and check comparisons between, not only me and the other competitors, but me and my best performance. I couldn't do it without these guys, but I'm the one who gets all the credit (laughs)!

RYG: How important is it to have your education as a back up to your swimming career?

LT: I think education is fantastic. In my case I had to split my university course so it took a few more years. I really want to excel at everything I do, so I sat down and spoke with both my swimming coach and my tutor and we worked out a good plan to get the best out of both my swimming and my education.

RYG: Do you set goals throughout the season?

LT:I set goals, but they're mostly very personal goals. I never try and set a goal where 'I want to win this,' or 'I want to do this,' where other people can affect what I do. If I want to swim a new best time, I sit down and work out the best way of doing that. Whether I can shave a few tenths of a second off a turn or the start, my goal is putting them all together in a race. That's the way I set my goals.

RYG: Do you ever think to yourself 'I could have been better'?

LT:No, because I believe I'm doing everything I can. I've moved away from Exeter to be with the best facilities and the best coaches and to get the best support around me. I think you need to push yourself that extra mile.

RYG: What has swimming given you?

LT: Swimming has given me a lot. It's given me a respect for people and different cultures around the world when I've been competing abroad. I've learnt many life skills and met so many friends around the world that I might not have had otherwise. I'm focused and driven and I guess swimming has made me that way.

RYG: What are the skills that swimming has given you that you've been able to use in other areas of your life?

LT: Dedication and time management are two of the biggest things. I hate being late for anything. If anything, I prefer to be ten minutes early rather than thirty seconds late. I'm also very dedicated and I want to do my best in everything I do. I believe swimming has helped transfer that into my life as well.

RYG: What advice would you give to young people wanting to get involved in swimming?

LT: Get down to your local swimming pool or your local swimming club, join up and see what it's like. I can guarantee that you're going to meet some great friends. Just being involved in water makes me happy and I'd like to see that transferred across to other people.