Swum dancing

Olympian swimmer Tom: Training feels like lead-up to Paris Games

- SARA WALLIS

TRIPLE gold medal winner Tom Dean has revealed the gruelling Strictly regime is like training for the Olympic Games except he is way out of his comfort zone.

The 24-year-old freestyle swimmer was expecting the tough physical challenge, with long hours, early starts and strict nutrition, but says the mental toll has shocked him the most.

Just a couple of weeks into rehearsals with dance partner Nadiya Bychkvoa, 35, Tom says: "It feels like I'm back in that lead-up to Paris." Tom, an MBE, admits: "We're working hard.

We're both sportspeople, we know what it's like to do a tough day of training, so I do think being an athlete helps. So it feels like I'm back in the pool training, but on land this time. But it's the mental challenge I find really hard.