Making a Big Splash

Lord Coe’s call to sportspeople at the Games was for them to go out and “inspire a generation”. It’s hard to imagine a better example of that in action. If things go right, Liam will be inspiring the next generation a whole lot more.

“I genuinely think Liam could be one of the best prospects Great Britain has produced for years. His first target is to qualify for the Commonwealth Games next year, which at the age of 19 is very young. But the key with Liam is maturity. We just went to the World Championship Trials last month, and he made the 50m, the 100m and the 200m backstroke finals and finished fourth in the 50m – just outside the podium. But he was the youngest in any of those finals by three years. Most of those guys are  in their early to late twenties. But he’s got a long way on them. So, once he’s matured physically and catches up with them, we definitely think he can be there. And then he’s got three years to go for Rio, and Team GB have already selected him for the Pathway to Rio scheme,” says Ben.

Given that the next Olympics is three years away, Liam should be hitting his peak just when Rio happens. Not that it’s all plain sailing, of course.

“In January I had a really bad back problem. It totally siezed up, and I was out of the water for about a week. The first few days back are so hard. You feel like your fitness has completely gone. I hate being out of the water. But you just have to keep mentally strong, and think of the bigger picture.”

To help maintain its high standards, the club has also recently invested in a physiotherapist, David Jakeman, who had Liam back in the pool again within a couple of weeks. It’s another sign of their serious dedication to the sport, about which Ben is passionate.

“Swimming is a great sport. It’s not an easy sport, but we haven’t got a child at the club that isn’t fitter than your average sportsperson at school. A lot of our kids get selected for national cross country and athletics because they’re so fit all round.”

The one remaining frustration is that, in spite of all the astonishing successes, still relatively few people have heard of them.

“We’re an unknown in Peterborough, really. I remember going to Peterborough Sports Awards a few years ago, and won Coach of the Year – but nobody even knew who I was! We have kids ranked in the top 30 in Europe now – Liam, for example – and we’ve got a Paralympic medallist and world champion, and the club as a whole is in the top 20 in the country, which is incredible considering the number of swimmers we have. For the last four years we’ve made the National Arena League Finals, which are basically the equivalent of the FA Cup. It’s an excellent predicament to be in, but unfortunately within Peterborough we’re very much a minority sport, and little-known as a club.”

Considering the drive and determination one finds at the club, I’d say they’ll be making a whole lot more people aware of COPS in the next few years – even if they have to win Olympic gold to do it.

A HARD DAY’S KNIGHT

What does it take to make a champion? Liam Knight reveals his weekly training schedule…

MONDAY – a typical day structure Up at 4.30 for 5.30 start 5.30-7.30: swim training in the pool 7.30-8.00 quick snack 8.00-9.15: gym (weight training) Home for breakfast, sleep for a couple of hours, break 3.45pm back at the pool for stretch and blood flow exercises 4.00-4.30pm: land training (medicine ball etc.) 4.30-6.30pm: swim training in the pool

TUESDAY

Two-hour training session in the morning To Loughborough ITC for additional training session

WEDNESDAY

Two-hour training session in the morning One hour gym No training Weds night

THURSDAY

Two-hour pool session in the morning Two-hour pool session in the evening, plus land training

FRIDAY

Two-hour pool session in the morning An hour and a half gym Two-hour pool session in the evening

SATURDAY

Day off

SUNDAY

Pool sessions at Oundle 12.30-2.30 or Regional 4.30pm-7.30pm (the latter includes one hour land training)

REPEAT EVERY WEEK…

For more information on COPS and how to get involved, go to: www.copsclub.co.uk