She’s an Olympic champion but Freya Anderson is still coming to terms with role model status.

Aged 17, the Wirral star bagged two bronze medals in the freestyle relays on Commonwealth debut at Gold Coast 2018.

And with the 'friendly Games' creating a prime opportunity to inspire English youngsters to get in the water, the 21-year-old knows she is now blazing a trail for others to follow.

She said: "The Commonwealth Games are going to be really amazing and I'm really excited for them.

"Especially being Team England and it being our home games. It's really exciting to have that crowd there and with everyone rooting for you. It should be really fun.

"I think there's going to be a lot more media coverage hopefully to get swimming out there. To say that I can inspire the next generation is really amazing.

"It still feels weird that I could say that but hopefully I can do England proud.

"It's a really friendly environment in the Commonwealth Games. I'm excited for the crowds and all my family can come and watch which is really nice. Definitely having a crowd really does spur you on."

In a golden summer of swimming, Anderson joined a strong British contingent at the FINA Aquatics World Championships in Budapest in the build-up to Birmingham.

Anderson is one of more than 1,100 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing her to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support.

With that backing, Anderson has added a further event to her already packed schedule in the shape of the 400m freestyle.

More suited to her tall stature and long stroke, Anderson will add the event to her 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and relays.

She said: "There's not as much pressure on me to do well as it's a new event for me but I'm really looking forward to it.

"Obviously it could be quite a packed schedule with the relays and the 200 and the 100 but it's more suited to my stroke I think.

"So hopefully I can get my personal best down and get a world class time on the board.

"My training has been going really well and been really consistent for once. Since maybe January. 

"I've been training really well and the group in general has been swimming the house down.

"So I'm really looking forward to it instead of being nervous and having these setbacks.

"I now feel more confident and comfortable in myself as a person. It's something I look forward to now without being nervous.

"I think it's a real confidence boost having this training block behind me."

An Olympic gold medallist in the 4x100m Medley Relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Anderson swam the freestyle leg of the heats with a storming finish to launch her team into the final as fastest seed.

But then missed out on that magical moment of golden glory, swapped out for Anna Hopkin in the final.

And although she propelled the team into prime position for victory and received a gold medal for her efforts, Anderson admitted that she still doesn't quite feel like the champion she is.

She said: "It's still a weird one for me, especially as I swam the heats for the relay.

"I still don't class myself as an Olympic gold medallist but I have a lot of people telling me all the time that I did deserve it and it was nice to be part of the team and help the team get through.

"But it does still feel a bit weird to say."

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