Wednesday 24 / April / 2024
Muscat: Students in Oman should not be afraid to dream big, British Olympic swimmers Liam Tancock and Caitlin McClatchey said.
The husband-and-wife duo was part of Team Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, with Tancock finishing fourth in the 4x100m medley relay and fifth in the men’s 100m backstroke, and McClatchey finishing fifth in both the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays. Both athletes were in Oman to inaugurate the new sporting centre at the British School Muscat, where they shared their experiences with the students.
“It is great to share our experiences with some of the students who are going through exactly the same things, and this is about daring to dream when you are young and going after it,” said Tancock, speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman. “There are people out there who are always willing to help you.
“Education and sports can be combined: Caitlin has got a masters’ degree, I have got a degree from Loughborough University, and we have both competed at the highest level, and I think that is really important,” he noted.
Best in the world
“When I was young, I remember watching the Olympics on television, and I told myself that one day, I want to be the best in the world as well,” remarked McClatchey.
“There will always be people to question you about how you are going to make something a reality, but those people who questioned me only motivated me to prove them wrong. I had a really supportive family, and I have some great friends as well.
“You might have to skip going to the cinema with your friends to train, but they were really understanding about that,” she remarked. The duo, which has won more than 15 medals between them, said that nothing compared to representing one’s nation at the Olympics.
“I do not think you can really say in words, how it feels to represent your country,” admitted Tancock.
“Both Caitlin and I have stood on the podium at the highest level of our sport. That is an unbelievable experience — seeing your flag flying and listening to the national anthem, surrounded by your parents and all the people who helped you make it, is a very, very proud moment. The Olympics inspired a nation, because it has given us such an amazing background, and that is why we want people to have the same experiences as we have had across all levels of the sport.”
“At the London Olympics, having 17,000 people cheer you on and knowing that the whole country was behind you was just an unbelievable experience,” revealed McClatchey.
Representing your country
“There is no better feeling than knowing that you are representing your country. Having the support of the team that was with you when you had your first training session at the age of about eight, to them being with you when you have completed your Olympic journey is just great.”
The couple has now retired from professional swimming, but plan to help the next generation of swimmers achieve greatness
as well.
British athletes
“After I retired from swimming, I tried to inspire people and use sports to build their confidence and resilience, because that is the sort of stuff that the sport taught me, and now, I work with the Association for British Athletes to look after the welfare of elite athletes across all sports in the UK (United Kingdom),” stressed McClatchey.
“I have teamed up with a group of guys to create a new swimwear brand called Swimzee,” added Tancock. “We realised that all the major brands focussed on things to do in the water, but we handle all the things outside the water, such as tracksuits and clothing, which will help people get into the athletic spirit.”
