BEIJING -- For Mongolian self-coached swimmer Tamir Andryei, a berth at London Olympics was just like what eight gold medals means to U.S. prodigy Michael Phelps.
"I'm really excited to be here, and I'm relishing the opportunity to swim in the Olympic pool," said the 26-year-old on Tuesday, who will swim the 100m freestyle in London.
Andryei is coaching himself and teammate Oyungerel Gantumur, the only two swimmers from Mongolia to compete in swimming events.
Though never qualified in reaching any semifinal at Olympics or World Championships, the happy-go-lucky seemed never discouraged. "We are training six days a week and five hours a day. We do enjoy the preparations for Olympics."
Andryei had participated in the 100m freestyle at Athens Games, and failed to secure a berth in semi-final. Without a place at Beijing Olympics, he experienced the 2011 Shanghai Championships by competing in the heats of 50m and 100m freestyle.
His teammate Oyungerel Gantumur, who will swim in women's 100m breaststroke in London, was earlier a butterfly specialist. She competed in 50m and 100m butterfly at Shanghai World Championships last year and the 2009 Rome worlds, both finished at heats.
"One big problem for us is our tumble turns, which we have to improve in order to go further," said Andryei, who coached a number of Mongolian swimmers in the past years.
"In Mongolia, we don't have a 50m pool to practise in," he said, citing one of the factors affecting their results.
The swimming events is slated for July 28 to August 4 at London Olympics, with 496 swimmers competing for 34 gold medals including 32 in pool and two in open water.
