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Olympics Countdown: Q&A with Andy Tennant

Andy Tennant

With the Olympics are just nine weeks away, Davies-sponsored Team Pursuit 2012 World Champion talks to Post about gold medals, farting teammates and sticky toffee pudding.

What event are you taking part in?
Track cycling team pursuit

How did you get into sports? How old were you?
I have always loved sport and started with swimming but got into cycling when I was about 14. I was chubby and not very good to start with, but persevered, lost weight and progressed quickly from then on

What was your first ever job - and were you any good at it?
Apart from a paper-round, cycling has always been my job.

If an MP3 player really could only hold three tunes, what would you select for the ultimate soundtrack to your life?
Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon, Pass Out - Tinie Tempah and Little Bird - Ed Sheeran

Who was your top teenage pin-up?
Kelly Brook

My teammates won't know this about me but ...
Given how much time we spend with each other, especially my best mate Ed Clancy, not sure there is anything they do not know and if there is I'm not going to admit anything here.

Favourite book of all time?
I grew up in the Harry Potter era ...

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
"You can't bend physics, you can only go as hard as you can" Ed Clancy MBE

What would be your chosen superpower?
To be able to absorb everybody else's, so that I'd be the ultimate superhero

How would a typical school report about you read?
Andy completes all his work to a high standard but at times I believe he may be causing disturbances that are affecting other people's learning experiences

My top tip for becoming an Olympian is?
Eat right, sleep right, train right

What's the most annoying thing your teammates do?
Fart

My last supper would comprise ...
Good Italian antipasto, jalfrezi, rice and a peshwari naan, followed by sticky toffee pudding

Who has been the most influential person in your life to date?
Ed Clancy and Matt Parker (former Team GB endurance coach)

When I'm not competing I like to...
Play with my coffee machine - I am a coffee obsessive!

Last film you saw?
Hall Pass

If I wasn't an athlete I would probably be ...
Looking for work in this recession with a degree

Name your five ideal dinner party guests (dead or alive) very briefly noting what they bring to the party.
Peter Kay (dinner table comedy)
Eddy Merckx (Greatest cyclist to have ever lived)
Ed Sheeran (great bloke and after dinner singalong)
Katherine Jenkins (I have a crush on her)
Alejandro Mendez (World Barista Champion 2011)

Marmite: food of the gods or work of the devil?
Actually I'm the minority that doesn't care. I wouldn't choose it but then I'll happily eat it

Career high point to date?
Winning the World Championships, firstly as a Junior and then this year as a Senior

Who insures your car and home?
BMW insures my car and Nationwide my house

Can you win the gold in London?
I have to believe I can, or I wouldn't be giving up so much of my life to try to achieve it.

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