Haywood has high hopes

Kate Haywood is hoping the message inside a special unopened letter will inspire her to success in the Olympic pool.

The 21-year-old is part of a youthful 37-strong British swimming team which has enjoyed a promising year ahead of their toughest challenge yet and although medals will be hard to come by in Beijing, the future is certainly bright.

Haywood booked her spot at the Games earlier this year when she became the British 100metres breastroke champion in Sheffield and also set a new national record time of one minute 7.56 seconds in the heats.

She swiftly followed this up by claiming a stunning 50m breastroke silver during April's World Short Course Championships in Manchester after finishing joint second with Australia's Sarah Katsoulis.

It underlines just how much Haywood has improved since missing out on the Athens Games in 2004 and now she just cannot wait for her Olympic debut to begin, even if her growing reputation has resulted in greater expectations.

"I'm really excited now," she said. "I always set my own personal goals and this time for the 100m it's just to make the Olympic final and swim a best time and be the fastest Brit so I can guarantee my spot in the final of the 4x100m medley relay.

"Breaking the British record this year has given me more confidence to go there and swim even better. I don't feel like I'm under any pressure, I'm going there to enjoy the experience and hopefully swim fast."

The only downside of the Olympics being so far away from home is she'll be lacking support in crowd.

However, the Loughborough University student is keen to keep in contact with those closest to her and has even got a surprise waiting for her before she competes.

She said: "Unfortunately I haven't got anybody coming out to watch me but my family, friends and boyfriend will all be watching on the television.

"I will be speaking to my parents and boyfriend Kevin on the phone for support. Kevin has also left me a card to open before I race so I'm sure that will be full of inspiring things.

"I'm sure I will have the support of all my fellow athletes as well."

Relay chance

Haywood has an even better chance of winning a medal with the 4x100m medley relay team having been part of the quartet which became European champions earlier this year, dipping just under the four-minute barrier.

They followed this up with a bronze at the World Short Course Championships behind the USA and Australia, setting another European record along the way.

She said: "It's a good team we have in that, we already hold the European record short and long course and I think that put us about third in the world so I think that race is open to anybody."

Confidence in the British camp is high ahead of the Games and although Haywood has revealed they aren't increasing the pressure by talking about medals, she's confident they all have the capability to achieve their secret targets.

She said: "As a team we decided not to discuss medals. But I do think the team will swim very well, everyone has had such a great year already.

"We have an amazing team spirit, everyone is really good friends and they support each other. I will be backing my team mates all the way but when it's my race I will be concentrating on just me."

Taking part in the Olympics, let alone standing on the podium, can be a once in a lifetime opportunity and this gives athletes the dilemma of whether to be single minded on their own event or soak up all of what the spectacle has to offer.

Haywood, who has experience of two Commonwealth Games, hopes she can sample the atmosphere both inside and outside the pool.

She said: "I will be excited when we arrive in the village and we have a few days to familiarise ourselves with everything.

"I'm just going to stay concentrated on competing and then when the swimming has finished we will have plenty of time to see other sports and really enjoy the experience.

"After the swimming has finished I will be getting tickets for as many events as possible. We will also be going to support our team mates in the open water swimming."

Future planning

Haywood is one of the Olympic hopefuls in the McDonald's Team Sport programme, which was set up in 2005 to provide financial support and encouragement for British stars of the future.

Not only has the initiative helped the Grimsby-born star on her way to achieving such high standards, but she's also been involved with introducing kids into sport and believes there is a reason for optimism ahead of London 2012.

She said: "We've been showing kids how they can really enjoy sport and it's a great way of keeping them fit and healthy.

"With the Olympics being over in Britain I think that will also encourage them to want to compete in their home country.

"I would also love to compete in four years time. It will be amazing in front of a home crowd."

Funnily enough one of Haywood's sporting idols, Sharron Davies, is also an integral part of the same scheme, and provides a major source of inspiration for young swimmers.

She said: "Sharron Davies is someone I really aspire to, I like how she's gone onto be successful in other things. She is also involved with the McDonalds Team Sport programme and she's a friend and very supportive when I see her."

For now Haywood must concentrate on the challenge which lies immediately ahead and with the clock counting down she insists it's been important to try and keep as fresh as possible.

She said: "Preparations have been pretty much the same as every other major competitions or trials I swim. I'm in what we call a taper so my metres in the pool drop a lot and the amount of sessions I do.

"I also had my last gym session on Saturday. I will be doing lots of resting, try to eat the best I can and get my body ready to swim fast."

Favourite to win gold in Haywood's event is undoubtedly world champion Leisel Jones, but Australia's record-breaking machine is still searching for that elusive prize having crumbled with nerves during her previous Olympic individual finals since Sydney.

Haywood said: "Leisel Jones is an awesome swimmer and she's quite far ahead of the rest of the field. It's possible she may slip up again but then again it's possible anybody can slip up. We'll just have to wait and see."