大象传媒

Oh, what's occurring?

The Team GB swim squad have arrived in Beijing, I've checked into the Olympic village and the tingle down my spine means my Games experience has started - and the tension is palpable.

So to ensure I keep my focus and my nerve, I've asked my good mates Gavin and Stacey to keep me chilled out as Olympic D-Day approaches.

My room-mate Tom Haffield, a fellow Welshman, and I have been glued to my Gavin and Stacey DVD since we touched down in China as it takes our mind off the pressure of an Olympics build-up.

I love a TV comedy and there's no better medicine for pressure than a good laugh so I've been overdosing on Gavin and Stacey big time - I'm probably their biggest fan.

And being a Barry boy, it reminds me of home and makes me proud to come from Barry. Genuine.

I'm not gonna lie to you but I'd love a cameo role in their - and a gold medal at the Olympics here in Beijing will do my chances no harm at all!

Gavin and Stacey's mate Nessa is an absolute genius and her sayings have me in stitches, no matter how often I've heard them, and the other lads in the GB swim team give me plenty of stick about 'typical Barry girls' - but it's all good banter.

They all love the show and show that us Welsh do have a sense of humour!

But Gavin and Stacey have set the benchmark for Barry exports, I've got to live up to their high standards and bring home swimming's version of a in Beijing.

I'll be watching the video before my first heat next Friday to keep me relaxed.

But I'm confident that physically I'm in the best shape of my life, I've done some great stuff in training and have not missed a session through illness or injury for as long as I can remember - I even sacrificed my turkey dinner on Christmas Day to train.

So knowing my body is right makes the mental preparations easier as I won't be having nightmares - because I know I've done everything to give myself the very best chance.

My was a great achievement for me but the sport has moved on dramatically since then and this will be a much more competitive and cultural experience.

I'm one of an incredible that have dipped below the magic 15 minute mark this year and my season's best time of 14 minutes 54.28 seconds is 10th in the list - with America's Peter Vanderkaay topping the charts almost ten seconds quicker than my best.

So this year's 1,500m freestyle Olympic heats, let alone the final, should be extremely quick and don't be surprised if the world record is under threat.

Grant Hackett holds the world record - - and the awesome Aussie is bidding for a phenomenal hat-trick of Olympic golds in Beijing.

Winning two Olympic is a superb achievement, but making it a treble would be an amazing feat for one of the most amazing athletes of modern-day sport.

Grant is not only a great competitor but a great friend - however, there will be no sentiment when we go head-to-head. I want to beat him as much as he wants to be beat me.

But the 1,500m freestyle is more than David Davies versus Grant Hackett - and it'll be good.