|David splashes out!|
|Around the Academy:
At the beginning of 2002 I wouldn't have said I'd be part of Team GB this summer.
I was on a junior team hoping for a European Junior medal but all that changed at the Commonwealth Games when I entered the 1500m Freestyle.
It was my first international meet and I only entered it to gain experience.
I ended up smashing my personal best. It was just amazing. Afterwards I realised it was my event and began gearing towards it.
My training and outlook in general became more professional and it completely took over my life.
I was utterly focused on making the Olympic team.
I'm lucky enough to have a good set-up at Cardiff with my coach Dave Haller.
We put a programme together that worked well and I had good support from family and friends. It all knitted together well.
There are a lot of great swimmers within the GB squad with good role models for the younger athletes.
It's totally professional, full of great characters and we all get on very well.
In Bill Sweetenham we have a great leader and we're all going in the right direction.