The gymnast
Louis Smith, 19
Twice Junior European champion, Commonwealth Games champion and the first British male gymnast to win a World Championship in 13 years.
Height 5ft 8in
Weight 11st 8lb
Training ‘Thirty-one hours a week. As a competition nears, I start building up to two or three routines on each apparatus.’
Fuel ‘Weight in gymnastics is crucial so I eat very sensibly. A kilo may not be a lot but when you’re holding onto the rings you can feel every muscle.’
Preparation ‘I don’t prepare mentally. I’m a good competitor, which comes from my love of being centre stage. For bigger competitions, I pull my shirt over my head and go through the routine in my mind.’
Hidden talents ‘Singing – in the shower at least.’
Not so good at… ‘Driving.’
Guilty pleasure ‘The odd KFC when I’m not training.’
Down time ‘Going on holiday. Puerto Rico is on my travel wishlist.’
Your philosophy ‘What I deserve I earn.’
If you weren’t an athlete… ‘I would be a singer.’
Vest, £310, Missoni (+44 (0)20 7289 5344); braces, from £80, Acne at Harrods (+44 (0)20 8479 5100); trousers, from £195, Bally (+44 (0)20 7408 9877)
The diver
Tom Daley, 14
Started swimming aged three, and diving aged seven. Became the youngest diving gold-medallist at the European Championships this year and will be the second youngest British male Olympic competitor in Beijing.
Height 4ft 4in
Weight 5st 3lb
Training ‘Three hours a day, six days a week during school terms, and six hours a day during the holidays. Half my training is dry-land preparation like trampoline, weights, conditioning and stretching and then practise on the boards.’
Fuel ‘A healthy diet, but I’m not on a strict regime.‘
Preparation ‘The night before I visualise my dives and then on the day of the competition, I’ll do dry run-throughs. By the time I get on the board, it’s all in my head.’
Hidden talents ‘Spanish.’
Not so good at… ‘I can’t play football to save my life.’
Guilty pleasure ‘The odd McDonald’s, which I am allowed because I’m still a kid. As long as it’s a very rare treat.’
Down time ‘Going to the cinema. I love films.’
Your philosophy ‘One of my heroes, the diver Leon Taylor, once said to me: “Work hard and success will follow.”’
If you weren’t an athlete… ‘I’d be a children’s TV presenter or a sports journalist.’
The judo player
Craig Fallon, 24
Only the second man to hold both a World Judo Championships title and European Champion title.
Height 5ft 4in
Weight 9st 4lb
Training ‘Judo work combined with strength, weights and cardiovascular. I spent three weeks in Japan prior to Beijing to intensify my training. Japan is one of the strongest judo nations in the world so training there means you have access to so many more world-class players to practise against.’
Fuel ‘I’m a 60 kilo [9st 4lb] fighter, so I have to weigh in at that or below on the day of the competition. So before an event I cut down on heavy carbs like potatoes and bread.’
Preparation ‘It’s important to stay relaxed in training. Before a competition, I maintain focus and listen to music.’
Hidden talents ‘I’ve been doing judo for so long I haven’t had a chance to do much else.’
Not so good at… ‘ Decision-making. I can stand in a supermarket for ages wondering what to have for lunch.’
Guilty pleasure ‘An Indian takeaway.’
Down time ‘A holiday somewhere hot.’
My philosophy ‘To make the most of what I do right now. Judo is a short career.’
If you weren’t an athlete… ‘I would struggle to sit down and do an office job.’
