Laurence Halsted

Name: Laurence Halsted
Age: 28
Place of birth: London
Current hometown: London
First senior international major event: January 2000
Best international result: Silver at the European Championships 2008, Bronze at Toyko World Cup 2010
 
Is this your first Olympics?
Yes, although I was a sparring partner for Richard in Athens and then on the BOA Beijing experience trip for potential 2012 athletes.
 
How did you feel when the BFA contacted you to tell you that you had been selected for the GB Olympic fencing squad?
I was relieved that I had recovered from a broken wrist in time to make the team.
 
Where were you when you were given the news?
I found out while I was in Austria at a friends wedding.
 
Who did you tell first?
I told my friends first.
 
How do you feel to be representing Great Britain in your home country?
It feels great! It's a real privelege and I’m incredibly lucky that there is a home games during my sporting career.
 
What aspect of being part of the Olympics are you most looking forward to?
Other than the competition day, there’s no one thing I'm most looking forward to. Just the whole period will be fantastic.
 
What do you expect the atmosphere to be like? 
Everything will revolve around the olympics for 2 weeks, it'll feel like a carnival of sports.
 
What is your goal for the Olympics?
My goal is to do my best and know I couldn’t have prepared any better.
 
What will it be like staying in the athlete’s village?
It'll be fun but also a little difficult to retain focus for so long. You have to make sure that you don't get carried away with all the special things happening around you, at least before your event.
 
Are there any Olympic sports which are known for having particularly rowdy / partying athletes in the village?
I'll tell you afterwards.
 
How is the team going to be preparing together over the summer?
We are in the GB holding camp at Loughborough 18 – 25 July and then we move to the Olympic Village. We are training hard with our sparring partners and working together as a team to prepare.
 
What will be your main area of focus in the build up to the Olympics?
My main area of focus will be getting the tactics right for the opponents we'll come up against. The hard physical work is a given.
 
Is your training routine going to change at all? How?
I don’t think it will differ much from our usual preparation for a major championship. You shouldn't try and change too much just because it's the Olympics.
 
Is your diet going to change? What will it be?
My diet is already rounded and very healthy, so I'll stick to it.
 
Do you have a special breakfast on the morning of a competition?
I don’t eat anything too heavy, but enough to get me through the warm-up at least. You will always snack through the day.
 
What will be key to your success on the day?
Laser-like focus is definitely the key to success.
 
Other than fencing, which sport are you looking forward to seeing most at the Olympics?
Table tennis and badminton ahould be good to watch.
 
What will be the Olympic legacy for fencing?
I think it could depend on our results, but I'd like to see a greater awareness of fencing amongst the general public, that's always a good place to start.