Liam Tancock is ready to use his experience ahead of the World Championships where he hopes to experience the same level of performance which made him a World Champion and World Record holder in 2009.
Tancock has been quiet since his fifth place at the 2012 Olympics in the 100m backstroke, most evidently his absence from the 2013 World Championships and his decline in performance. For example, in the 100m backstroke, his time of 53.98 at the British Championships in April was more than a second from his 52.73 set back in 2009.
Nevertheless, Tancock believes that the injury he suffered in 2013 has made him stronger and more determined, something which has helped him stay in the sport for the best part of 22 years and still take two bronze medals at the 2014 Commonwealth games.
Tancock, for many years was regarded by many as Britain’s best male swimmer but now with the emergence of Chris Walker -Hebborn, Tancocok is not even Britain’s number one backstroker with the younger Hebborn winning the commonwealth title last year with Tancock finishing in joint third.
However, the 50m backstroke World record holder, has relished the challenge of being pushed by younger athletes, saying, “Anything that pushes the sport on is fine by me, not only in the world but also in British Swimming so it is great to have the likes of Chris Walker-Hebborn around,”
Tancock is also using Kazan as a good indicator for next year’s all important Rio Olympics. Rio is likely to be the last we see of Tancock and he admits that while he will be looking to perform well next week, Rio is the main goal.
He added “I have always said that the long game is Rio and that is my main focus, so while I will be going to Russia obviously looking to do the best I can I know 2016 is just around the corner,” .
Quotes Courtesy of British Swimming.
Talking about men’s backstroke I’ve recently read that Lacourt was in Kazan to win gold medals and wanted to break a world record before his retirement next year. He didn’t mention which specific event he talked about for the world record but I think he has more the 50 back in mind.
Lacourt peaked in 2010 at European championships with 2 times very close to the world records. 24.07 and 52.11. The 50 back time is still the textile world record if I’m correct and in the 100 back I believe that only Matt Grevers has swum faster in textile with a 52.08 at 2012 olympic trials.
Hard to believe that Lacourt can swim that kind of times… Read more »