Greenbank 'motivated' by new British rivals

Luke Greenbank won bronze in the 200m backstroke in Tokyo 2020

Luke Greenbank says he is "motivated" by the challenge of competing alongside his younger British rivals as he prepares for his second Olympics.

Greenbank won two medals in Tokyo three years ago - bronze in the individual 200m backstroke and then silver as part of the 4x100m medley relay team.

But the 26-year-old from Cockermouth was beaten by rising star Oliver Morgan in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events in the British Championships in April.

"It keeps me going, it keeps me motivated and I'm really looking forward to see what I can do in Paris," he said.

'I really enjoy the competition'

Greenbank has won medals at Olympics, World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

But he did not make selection for last year's World Championships in Japan, and has had to battle his way back into the Team GB squad.

The Cumbrian swimmer has done so as the relative 'old hand' in the backstroke, with the rise of 21-year-old Morgan, who set a new British record in the 100m backstroke in the Olympic trials, and Jonathon Marshall, only 19, also making the team.

So Greenbank has a different perspective as he heads to his second Games.

"This Olympics is massively different compared to the last Olympics," he told BBC Look North.

"The last few years have been full of ups and downs - as they were before Tokyo - but I like to think I have bounced back well.

"There's plenty more competition in the country with obviously Ollie Morgan and Jonny Marshall making the team as well.

"But it's good. It keeps me on my toes. I really enjoy the competition."

Luke Greenbank (second left) won silver in the men's 4x100m medley relay in Tokyo with Duncan Scott (left), Adam Peaty and James Guy

Greenbank can look forward to family and friends from Cockermouth supporting him in Paris this time, having been forced to watch at home because of Covid restrictions in Tokyo in 2021.

With that inspiration to call upon, he is hopeful that his supporters will see him on the podium again.

"There are definitely some things that were better going into Tokyo, but there are some things that are better now in terms of technique, break out and finer details," he said.

"If I can find that fitness and get that race model correct, I'll be in with a chance of bettering that."