ContinueTeam GB Swimming Team Leader Michael Scott has poured cold water on claims that Team GB men are falling short of their female counterparts.
The former director of Australia's Institute of Sport said that Britain boasts more world-class swimmers than ever before. And while the Beijing Games of 2008 represented their best result since 1908, it would seem the squad - both men and women - is on the cusp of worldwide recognition.
So much so that Scott believes up to 12 of his swimmers could medal.
Scott said: “We have more swimmers that have been on the podium over the last four years and more that have the potential, instead of having one or two medal potentials, we have twelve.
“Since I’ve been in post, nearly five years now, the girls have been leading the way but I’m starting to see a shift in the tides. Whether that happens here in London or in the next four years, it will definitely happen. We have some really talented male swimmers on the team and their time will come.”
Double world champion and 50m backstroke world-record holder Liam Tancock (pictured) said: “If you look at any sport it’s one of those things that goes in peaks and troughs, the females do well for a couple of years and the male do well for a couple. We don’t break it down, we are as one Team GB and everyone gets behind each other.”
Tancock, who missed out on a medal in Beijing by 0.21seconds, has been heralded as Team GB’s top male medal hope and said he can’t wait to test the waters at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.
He said: “I love to train but I live for racing; what better stage, a home Olympics here in London. We’ll have 17 and a half thousand people when I walk out to my race cheering, not to mention the one billion watching on TV, it can’t get much more exciting!”
