Liam Tancock

The two-time World champion finally hung up his trunks and goggles in November 2016, but the former Sky Academy Sports Scholar can look back at a glittering career in the pool.

He broke the world record to win 50m backstroke gold in Rome in 2009 - setting a world record in the process - and defended his crown in Shanghai two years later.

Liam Tancock was Commonwealth champion in 2006 and 2010, he won bronze at Glasgow 2014, and is a double Olympian, making the finals in the 100m Backstroke and 200m IM at Beijing 2008, then finishing fifth in the 100m Backstroke.

Exeter's finest opens up on why being a Scholar was so amazing, why he loves the sport and his incredible memories of London 2012....

Maybe I am a bit mad. I've been doing it forever but I've always loved the coast and the water.

I come from a very sporty family and wherever I go I always find water! I just love being in the water, whether it's the sea or a pool. It's just something I grew up with. Or maybe I am mad!

The London Olympics is a huge highlight. I remember walking out in the final and the crowd were chanting my name - that was the one moment in our sport where you felt like a rock star or a footballer.

There were 17,500 people inside the Aquatic Centre. That was an amazing experience being part of incredible team.

Being a Scholar in the build-up to those Games was such a boost though. One of the most helpful things was being part of a team and that's something I've always enjoyed.

Swimming is an individual sport but you are part of a wider team ultimately. As a Scholar you interacted with other athletes. I am someone who learns from other people so it was amazing to hang out with other guys to develop relationships and see how others compete and hear their stories.

It really helped my performances. It's something a lot of individual sports don't get. Many sports you feel isolated. The Commonwealth Games and Olympics is when multi-sports comes into its own.

Meeting up with judo star Euan Burton and hearing about their experiences and some of the things they've gone through like injuries was great.

I got to watch what they do, why do they do certain things and their warm-ups. I got to find out why some athletes turn their water bottle up three times or jump up and down or bounce the basketball four times. I enjoyed seeing all of that.

It was all about seeing how people dealt with different things like politics in sport or having injuries. Having that support was amazing. It's like having a sibling in your team.

You got to learn dealing with things that went wrong by being in that network and having those connections which really made a difference.

I would recommend anyone to be a Scholar. If you're lucky enough to get on the scheme my advice would be this....

Be yourself, be open, listen to people around you. These people have been there and you might be able to learn a thing or two so just give it a go!