Thu, 19 Apr 12:42:00 2012

Top British swimmer Liam Tancock has emphasised how world class coaching is critical in giving athletes the best chance of Olympic success.

Tancock, 26, is Team GBs foremost male swimming hope for London 2012 in a squad studded with female stars.

And he says that coaching he received as an eight-year-old forms the backbone of his challenge today.

The stuff I was taught when I was eight I still put into practice today it helped me get to the [100m] Olympic final in Beijing [in 2008], he told Eurosport.

For example, a great start in swimming is very important: I was taught to dry my hands before getting in, in order to get a better grip on the bar. Little things like that.

Growing up I had a great coach called John Randall until the age of 18. From then to now Ive had Ben Titley. I learned some great things about life from my coaches: they help me prepare for competition and get my body and mind ready.

Great coaches make great athletes, in all sports. Because of that Im involved in a campaign that aims to get young guys into coaching, with scholarships available.

Ive done some qualifications myself, but I dont have time at the moment to do any coaching as heading towards the Olympics Im focused on competing but Ive done a few swim clinics recently.

A double world champion in the 50 metre backstroke, Tancock also holds the world record time in that discipline. However the 50 is not an Olympic event so he will instead challenge over 100m in London in July and August.

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London 2012 - Tancock: Coaching key to British success