F-Teamers set to swim in Kazan

With the action in the pool set to begin at the FINA World Championships we caught up with five Funky Trunks F-Teamers, Sam Sheppard, Elvis Burrows, Duncan Scott, Kurt Herzog and Jayden Hadler before they left for Kazan.

Sam Sheppard before he left for Russia and diving in for his 5km race

Sam Sheppard

FT: How have you managed your training loads in the lead up to the event?

SS: My training load is managed with lots of sleep and food. It's a pretty simple formula but I feel that as a swimmer you can't go wrong with these two.

FT: What about Russia excites you?

SS: I raced in Kazan two years ago at the World University Games and it is a lovely city. I never would have thought that I would be back there so soon. I think that will give me a slight advantage because I've already raced there it is reasonably familiar to me.

Update: Sam finished 32nd in the 5km race and an incredible 6th in the 25km race

Elvis in his Funky Trunks Performance Jammers preparing for Worlds

Elvis Burrows

FT: What are your expectations of what you will get out of this competition?

EB: I'm hoping my performance coming out of this competition will consolidate my spot on the Olympic Team.

FT: What drives you to swim your best?

EB: I love to win, I'm extremely competitive, I love to feel accomplished and I hate to lose. These things drive me to perform my best in anything that I do.

Jayden is set for the 100m fly at World Championships

Jayden Hadler

FT: What's the biggest sacrifice you've had to make to reach this level?

JH: I guess spare time and having a normal life has been sacrificed, but it has just become my lifestyle now and I love it. I have had some incredible experiences, so I would make the sacrifice again if I had the choice.

FT: What are you most looking forward to?

JH: I am really looking forward to racing to the best of my ability. We don't get the opportunity to race fully rested very often and I feel very confident in my preparation so far.

On his first Australian Dolphins team Kurt is set to race in the 4x200m relay.

Kurt Herzog

FT: What do you think will be your biggest challenge to perform on the world stage?

KH: Performing as a debutant and venturing into the unknown, which I'm really looking forward to. I hope to gain confidence for future performances and improve my swimming as a whole.

FT: What drives you to swim your best?

KH: Happiness. I love training, competing, taking on new challenges and pushing myself to reach new goals in all aspects of my swimming, training, psychology, nutrition and body conditioning.

Duncan Scott in training preparing for World Championships.

Duncan Scott

FT: What are you most looking forward to at the World Championships?

DS: Just standing on the block and representing Great Britain's National Team for a first time will be an incredible feeling.

FT: What drives you to swim your best?

DS: Knowing that I've worked as hard as I possibly can and that I really don't like being beaten.