Swimmer Liam Knight

GOLD STANDARD: Swimmer Knight tops podium as Cundy inspires Fenland’s next generation of Olympic stars

Story by: ROB SETCHELL, Reporter Friday, February 17, 2012
9:00 AM

WHILE Jody Cundy was crossing the finish line for his 11th world title, the next generation of Fenland’s Olympic talent was also blazing a golden trail.

Jody Cundy at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships Los Angeles, USA

Cundy waved to the fans on Saturday after retaining his 1km Time Trial (kilo) title at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles.

But, at the same time, Wisbech swimmer Liam Knight was also topping the podium at the National de Béthune tournament in France.

The 17-year-old continued his preparations for next month’s Olympic trials by powering past a host of senior French swimmers to take gold in the 50m backstroke and 400m medley and bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Knight said: “I was one of the youngest and I was coming up against absolute giants, who concentrate on sprinting.

‘Cundy is an inspiration’

BACKSTROKE specialist Liam Knight first met Jody Cundy at Wisbech Swimming Club when he was just 10 years old.

The teenager said he was immediately inspired by Cundy, who won 23 international medals in the pool before switching to cycling.

Knight said: “I used to swim with Jody when I was very young at Wisbech. I find him very inspirational and he’s a nice guy.”

Ian Knight, Liam’s father, said: “Just to have your son talked about in the same sentence as people like Liam Tancock or Jody Cundy is fantastic.”

“The 100m backstroke is one of my best events but I came third because I had a massive guy right next to me and I just got wave after wave of choppy water.

“It will be like that at the Olympic trials so I have to get used to it.”

The City of Peterborough swimmer will line up against his hero Liam Tancock during the trials at the £268million Olympic Aquatics Centre in London.

Although he is not expected to qualify for this year’s games, the teenage talent said he was determined to represent his country at future Olympics.

‘Tough training’

ASPIRING Olympian Liam Knight completes nine two-hour training sessions in the pool every week, along with three gym workouts.

The 17-year-old said it was tough to juggle the gruelling training while studying for three A-levels at Arthur Mellows Village College, in Peterborough.

He said: “You get used to the fact that your muscles ache all the time and there’s a strict schedule for rest periods and training.

“It’s incredibly hard trying to do A-levels while also trying to become an Olympic swimmer!”

Knight’s preparations for the Olympic trials continued with a training camp in Oundle this week.

“I feel really nervous about the trials but there’s nothing to lose,” he said. “As long as I know I have done my best, I’ll be happy.

“I’m the underdog in races against these guys and I like that. I go out to beat them and put them under pressure but I’m expected to lose. If I don’t, that’s great.

“I find nationals more nerve-wracking because I’m racing against rivals who are my age.

“I want to prove that I’m the one to beat in my age group.”