Usually I do not think about my rivals. I prefer to - and do - focus on myself, on my optimal splits and details of the race.

Sometimes in the process of preparation I may assess the abilities of my rivals, but before the race. I focus only on myself. I work out my race strategy, that sort of thing.

The strongest and most dangerous opponents for me are Leisel Jones (AUS), Rebecca Soni (USA), my teammate Valentina Artemieva (RUS) and Mirna Jukic (AUT). They are very serious fighters. I have no fear - but I respect them very much.

Yulia (Efimova), Mirna Yukic (AUT) - I’ve raced against them on many occasions - and Rebecca Soni (USA). Each of the girls has very particular traits, but what they all have in common is that they are very fast and all mentally strong.

It’s in my blood - I like to win. To train and compete is a habit for me. I feel empty without training. I know that my opponents work hard and I have to do the same.

I can see the goal in front of me – the main event. But training is the only way to success, and I want to win. So, even when the going gets hard, I’m able to assemble all my pieces in one (get my act together) and go to training.

I’ll give you 2 examples:1) 2 x [4x50 on 60sec + 2x100 on 2mins + 200 on 3:30 + 50 at max race speed - All breaststroke ] – then 350 recovery free or back 2) 20x 100 as [4x100 on 2min, comfortable pace + 100 on 2:30 at max race speed x 4]

I do a lot of high quality stuff. It may go like this: 2 to 4 x [6x(15 fast/35 easy pull + 6x(15 fast/35 easy) kick + 6x(15 fast/35 easy) full + 2x(25 fast/25 easy) + 50 at race speed with a dive start; or, 4x50 fast (1st 50m from a dive start + 3x50 from a push) going off 60 to 70sec + 800m recovery + 4x50 at race speed, as above

Frankly speaking, I do not like psychologists. The best one for me is my coach Irina Vyatchanina (mother of Arkady). Besides, I can control myself pretty well.

My coach is a perfect psychologist for me. And I do some mental training under his guidance - mental visualization – always with a happy ending, that I’ve talked myself into.

Usually, I do 11 swimming sessions of 5 to 6 km each, so that takes me to roughly 55 to 65 km per week. I do a lot of land work – flexibility stuff, stretch-cords, weights, Huttel pulling machine, a lot of jumps. I do some form of land work every day for 40 to 45mins in the morning and 1 to 1.5 hours in the afternoon. From time to time I do a 10km session in water in the morning, plus 2.5 hours of circuit training, plus 5km in water the afternoon.

My average swimming volume is 55-60 km/maximum 65-68 km per week. My land programme is very important: I sually do a 1-hour “warm up” on land every morning; 2 days a week – circuit training: 2 to 3 x (8 to 10 exercises x 15 to 30sec each with a rest of 15 to 3sec in between); 2 days a week – weights and jumps; 1 to 2 days a week, I use medicine balls. I came to “classic” swimming from fin swimming – so I use fins in my swimming programme for dual purpose – to strengthen my legs and to develop a rigid body (core body strength).

Actually, I like the fact that our country has one more elite swimmer. Even her presence in the finals at the big event may help me. She may take some pressure off me.

I want to be the best in the country and Yulia’s fast times motivate me to improve mine. She’s a good whip for me.

“Focus on a good start. Begin fast from the very first metres and then do everything just right!”

By the time I rise to the blocks, all necessary things have already been taken into consideration. Now its my time – I say to myself “Do it hard and fast, show your best!”

I consider only their strong sides. All my rivals are great characters, great fighters. Just like me.

My prime opponent is Yulia. I recognise her great talent and admire her technique. I disregard her weaknesses if there are any. I am better to rely on my own abilities and mental strength.

With all due respect to others, I have no idols in sport or in my life beyond swimming. I want to be myself. I want to be the best.

Leisel Jones, of course, has the best lifetime records. I would be pleased and honoured to race against her if she return to swimming - and may be I can beat her.

I shall never forget all those hard training sessions, all the toughness and hardship on my way up. I shall remember moments of victories and my World Records.

All my victories, especially the unexpected ones, both in swimming and fin swimming. In “classic swimming” - my first victory at the World Cup is a happy memory.

There was a time when I wanted to be a designer. But not long ago I swam with dolphins in delphinarium – very smart creatures! So may be I shall become a sea biologist and will work with dolphins.

I like to do embroidery – it is my passion. Second one – to drive my car.

They would be Valentina, Mirna, all the rest will be my team-mates – Arkady (Vyatchanin), “Zuika” Anastasia ‘Nastya’ Zueva), Nastya Aksenova. They are my good friends. I would cook a dinner myself – I like to cook and can cook. May be it would be a goose (or a duck), Russian soup, pastries.

I would invite Yulia, Mirna and, if I could, Leisel and Rebecca (I do not know who else) and I would ask my mother to make a dinner. It may be some fried poultry and boiled potatoes with bacon and dill – and then ... a hot apple crumble with ice cream on the top.