Still hard work to be done

By Nyree Lewis and Sascha Kindred
British Paralympic swimmers

The Paralympic Games are just round the corner but for us, in Manchester, day-to-day training stays the same.

We are excited but nervous thinking about just how many more weeks of hard work are still to come.

In fact, we have two full cycles of training left and then we start tapering down.

We have to trust our coach that the sessions are working and he has to trust us to do what he tells us.

Sascha and Nyree combine official duties with training

This was a plan that was formulated a long while ago - virtually since the last Games.

It is too late to make any drastic changes now.

We have also had a series of camps with the British swimming squad to check if we were training well and to assess our fitness.

The medical team tested our blood to analyse if we were over-trained or had any mineral or vitamin deficiencies.

For the first time this year, we also did some relay practice.

The relay teams for Athens will be selected based on each swimmer's performance during the Games themselves but there are already squads in place.

I (Nyree) am on two squads - the 34 point and 20 point women's medley and Sascha is on three - the 20 and 34 point medleys and the 20 point freestyle.

Whatever your disability classification is, that is the amount of points you contribute to the team.

So for the men's 34 point team there could be up to 13 different combinations of swimmers and you have to practice with them all.

We also caught up on what to expect in Athens at a get-together in Warwick with the entire Great Britain squad.

MORE NYREE LEWIS FACTS First sporting title: 1997 Welsh Champion First made GB squad: 1999 Favourite other sport: Wheelchair basketball and gymnastics Tip for the top: Be committed Hobbies: Cinema, writing and eating out

There were workshops on how to prepare yourself, media training and security.

One thing we have plenty of experience of already is drugs-testing.

Both of us have had random tests and, even though you know you have not taken anything, it is still a nerve-wracking situation.

Everyone on the world class performance squad has to submit themselves to be tested inside and outside competition.

All the athletes who win medals in Athens will be drugs-tested.

They allow you time to go and get your medal and swim down so long as you report within an hour of your race.

But you literally get a new friend who follows you everywhere, like a shadow, until you have given a good sample.

Because the Games are so close now we do not have much spare time so even things like seeing our families has become a bit of a treat.

I (Nyree) managed to see my parents for a few hours when I went back to Cardiff.

I joined about 20 other Welsh athletes to try and build up support and say to the public 'watch out for us in Athens.'

We also went to the Olympic torch ceremony in London but the best bit for me (Sascha) was seeing my twin brother.

He really supports our swimming and has tickets to come out and watch all our events in Athens.