Fogg bids to be the first home in Rome (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Fogg bids to be the first home in Rome

10:32am Wednesday 8th July 2009 in

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A SWIMMER from Chingford is about to take on the world’s best in the water.

Daniel Fogg, 21, is in the Great Britain squad which will compete at the World Champion-ships in Rome, later this month.

And his event must rank as the most gruelling on the whole calendar.

It is no short sprint or stylish synchronised swimming gala.

Instead, Daniel will swim in the sea for 10km non stop, in a bid to get the gold medal.

The biggest names in the sport will take part in the event and gamesmanship is not unheard-of.

Earlier this week, the man who still turns out occasionally for his childhood team, the Waltham Forest Gators, told the Guardian that the prospect does not daunt him.

“The swimming is relentless and it’s at a fast pace,” he said. “There’s a lot going on around you and it can be tough. There can be grabbing,” he revealed.

He vowed to hold his own, and is even quietly confident.

“I will try and stay out of trouble. I’m still quite new to the sport but if I swim my best I could win a medal. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Daniel is a mainstay of the Great Britain team and near to the summit of his sport.

He is desperate to swim at the London Olympics in three years time, after he missed out on a spot at the 2008 Games by just one second.

Today, he trains regularly with Olympic medalist David Davies, and says he learns a lot from the man who was at Beijing.

There, Davies won silver in the same event that Daniel wants to win in Rome.

“It is very good to have someone who is so committed and focused as a training partner,” said Daniel, who says he even relishes the tough training regime.

“I really enjoy it. I’ve been doing this competitively for 10 years now. I wouldn’t do it otherwise.”

Right now, he is in the pool ten times a week for two hours at a time.

In Rome, the 10km distance is made up of four laps around a 2.5km course.

Daniel is currently the fastest man in England over 800m in the pool. He wants to do the same in Rome over a much greater distance.

“It will be the biggest event of my swimming career,” he said. “I’m excited. 2012 is the big, big aim of my career and I think I can definitely do it. I wouldn’t do all the training otherwise.”