I'd raced well in South Africa and trained well since the Commonwealth Games back in October 2010, but over Christmas I had a small setback. What I now know was swine flu completely wiped me out for three days and then lingered for around 2-3 weeks. However, by the time the British Championships came round I was in good shape and felt back to full fitness.
The day before I started competing in the 200 metres freestyle, I shaved down. This means literally shaving your whole body and takes hours to do! After that I tried to rest up, but without much luck. Only five months earlier I'd lost my Commonwealth title to my good friend Robbie Renwick. Now I was excited, nervous and anxious about how the following few days would pan out.
The next morning went according to plan. I raced the heats of the 200 metres freestyle and felt comfortable, without setting the world alight. It was then a case of resting up as much as possible before the evening's semi-final, so I went back to the hotel for something to eat, and put my feet up for a while before heading back to the pool.
In terms of making ensuring progression to the next round, the semi-final was similar to the heats. It didn't matter which lane I had for the final because I felt comfortable and confident enough to perform well from any, as long as I was in the final. But the stakes were much higher as this was where the real pressure started. As a result I was very nervous before the semi-final, knowing that if I messed up or got disqualified then I wouldn't make the final and my chances of qualifying for the World Championships would be slimmer. Still, I had a race plan which I discussed with my coach, and I stuck to it. The semi-final swim felt good, I knew there was a lot more in me and I qualified for the final in 5th place!
With a lane in the final and more in the tank, I knew I had a chance of winning. In fact, straight after the semi-final I turned to my coach and said "I feel like I can win this."
Again it was a case of resting, eating and sleeping. The final was 24 hours after the semi, so there was a lot of time to think about the race. Maybe too much..
In the evening of the final I was nervous again, although not quite as much as I was before the semi. By this point I knew all I could do was my best. I felt good in the warm up and was well-prepared for the race.
The race itself went how I predicted. The first 50 metres were very close but I knew I was up there with the leaders. By the 100 metre mark I was leading and feeling comfortable there. Then the third 50 metres began to take their toll and I could see Robbie catching up on me. I know from racing against Robbie and Dave Carry over the past 7 years that they always finish strongly, so from there I just put my head down and gave everything I had left to make it to the wall first.
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| PICTURE BY VAUGHN RIDLEY/SWPIX.COM... British Gas Swimming Championships 2011, Day 3 - Manchester Aquatics Centre, Manchester, England - 07/03/11 |
Looking up from the water I didn't know where I had finished. Then I saw the scoreboard. I had won and in doing so had qualified for my fourth World Long Course Championships! I was ecstatic.
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| PICTURE BY VAUGHN RIDLEY/SWPIX.COM... British Gas Swimming Championships 2011, Day 3 - Manchester Aquatics Centre, Manchester, England - 07/03/11 |
Robbie came a close second and Dave Carry came third. Both are great friends and fantastic competitors. We have raced each other so many times down the years. Sometimes I win, sometimes Robbie wins and sometimes Dave wins. It's great to have that competition from two brilliant guys.
This seems a good point to say thanks for all the messages of support and congratulations during the British Championships, however they've been sent: on Twitter, Facebook or even in real life! It really does mean a lot.
Now it's time to train for a well-earned break. Once I return from holiday it'll be straight back to the daily grind of training. I'll compete in Europe a couple of times before heading out to the World Championships in China later in the year.
Bring it on!
