Karen Crumpler (nee Legg) became Dorset’s most successful swimmer during a seven-year career as an international. The former freestyler hit the headlines when she claimed five medals during a memorable 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. A Team GB swimmer at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she is now a mother of two and part-time swimming teacher at The Junction in Broadstone.

“Competing in the Olympics is a great achievement.

“It is probably one of the best things you can do in your life and it is the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication.

“The fact the Games are in London will make a huge difference to the athletes.

“I won five medals at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and I had never done that at a major Games before. Home advantage definitely spurs you on. When you are standing on the block, everyone is there to support you.

“There are other championships but the big one is the Olympic Games and that is what you always train for.

“When I was 14, I remember saying I wanted to be an Olympic swimmer. That is what I always wanted to do in life and I worked hard to get to that point.

“The athletes heading for London 2012 will be experiencing a mixture of feelings. They will be excited, nervous and won’t know what to expect.

“You are mainly nervous but when you get there to compete, you are very focused on what you are there to do. You need to be nervous to be able to perform.

“This week, I have been watching the Olympic swimming trials on television and it made me think about how much the sport has moved on and how much more popular it is than when I retired.

“It has moved on a lot but my time would still get me into the final of the trials. I sometimes think I wish I was still swimming.

“But my life has moved on a lot more now and I have got two children. I hope maybe one day they will become swimmers of some sort.

“I watch the sport and it brings back great memories of going away and doing warm-weather training – but I don’t miss 5.30am starts!”