With a monumental summer ahead, we caught up with NX athlete and celebrated Team GB swimmer Anna Hopkin MBE to check in to see how she’s feeling, what training is looking like and exactly how she broke into the sport that’s got her so far.

How did you first get in to swimming?

I first got into swimming when I was about 8 years old, swimming at a club that my older brother had joined too, as well as a couple of my friends from school. Swimming for me was very much a hobby to start with and as I got into it, I learned that I really enjoyed racing; doing relays and racing against my friends. From then, I was hooked!

When did you realise that swimming was something you wanted to train seriously at?

Over time, as I trained more and focused more on swimming, it just became a more of a realisation for me that it was something I really enjoyed and wanted to do more seriously. I knew I had a skill for it, and coupled with it being something I loved, competing just felt like a natural progression.

Do you have a preferred swimming style or stroke?

My preferred swimming stroke is definitely freestyle, and I usually compete in the 50m and 100m free (100 metres freestyle). The 100m is the one that I'm focusing a lot more on, as I compete in the individual 100m and it’s also part of the 4x100m freestyle relay, the mixed medley relay and the medley relay – so I’m concentrating a lot on this as my core style/distance.

What has training looked like for you recently?

At the moment, I’m training every single day, sometimes two sessions a day, to make sure my physique, fitness and technique are the best they can possibly be. My work in the gym has also become a lot more power-focussed; I've seen my events focus a lot on speed and power, so I really need to build that side in the pool. We’ve had a whole season now of really big bulky work, and have focussed on a large aerobic phase where we build up a lot of fitness and strength. We're obviously looking at a lot of technical details and doing a lot of work on my stats and making those as quick as possible, too, and just seeing how fast we can get in preparation for this summer. With this extra training in both the pool and gym, recovery is absolutely key, as is maximising every training session to ensure I’m as prepared as possible.

 How does it feel competing at such a high level?

There is no better feeling than when you're ready to race and you're in peak condition. It can definitely be nerve-wracking when you’re walking up to the blocks and you see a big crowd watching, but then once you dive in, you're very much in your own little world; like a flow state. You almost know before you see the time that you're going to be swimming fast, when you’re at that peak that you’ve trained so hard for, and that feeling of achievement if the feeling that I think all athletes are chasing.

How do you feel ahead of a big competition or event?

Ultimately, what’s most important for me is going up there and performing at my best. It’s incredible to be able to compete alongside and against the best swimmers in the world, and of course I would love to bring home some hardware! The pressure is obviously high, but it will be amazing to be able to swim in front of a crowd again. I really can’t wait.

How big a part does nutrition play in your training?

Nutrition is a really important part of being an elite athlete, and it’s definitely something that I have had to take more and more seriously – and has become an even more vital part of my training strategy – as I have progressed in my sport.

I've always had a food first mentality, aiming to get my core nutrition through whole foods, with the support of supplements where I need them. This can particularly be the case when I’m swim-training before going to the gym, and getting a good hit of protein in between these sessions can be tricky. That’s when a protein shake or protein drink, like the Protein Whey Shot, can be really useful; giving my body the recovery support it needs on-the-go.

Ultimately, it’s really important that we look after ourselves well as athletes and set a good example for younger generations and the communities we’re proud to be a part of. Looking after our nutrition well is a huge part of that.

What do you like most about Nutrition X supplements?

It can be really overwhelming as an athlete not knowing which supplements to take, both from a performance and safety perspective. The Nutrition X website is really informative and easy to navigate, which is so helpful for when I’m looking for something in particular. You also  know that it’s a good-quality, Informed-Sport tested supplement; vital for a competing athlete like me. I know that whatever supplement from the Nutrition X range I’m taking, it’s going to do what it says it’s going to do – and that’s the peace of mind I need.

Do athletes play an important role in inspiring good nutrition in younger generations?

I definitely think that we have an important role to play in showing how beneficial good nutrition can be to younger generations, particularly to those interested in taking their sport to the next level, and what a huge part good nutrition can play in this process. If we, as athletes, can set a precedent for what good nutrition looks like, then hopefully this will help to inform both parents and younger athletes so that they’re able to have more of a strategy when it comes to food to support their training and physical goals. This can also be said for ‘safe’ supplements… If it’s not tested, don’t take it. Spreading awareness of that is key!

Keep track of Anna’s journey with us over on our Instagram page. To discover more of our supplement range perfect for swimmers, head to our Swimming supplements page here.