View source for Liam Tancock

{{Short description|English swimmer (born 1985)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name           = Liam Tancock
| image          = XIX Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi Winners of (Men`s) 100m Swimming Breaststroke, Liam Tancock of England (Gold).jpg
| image_size     = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
| alt            = 
| caption        = XIX Commonwealth Games-2010 
| fullname       = Liam John Tancock
| nicknames      = "The Tank"
| national_team  = {{GBR2}}
| strokes        = [[Backstroke]], [[medley swimming|medley]]
| club           = 
| coach          = James Gibson
| collegeteam    = [[Loughborough University]]
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1985|5|7|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Exeter|Exeter, England]]
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height         = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight         = {{convert|81|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's swimming}}
{{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships|2009 Rome]] | [[Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre backstroke|50 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships|2011 Shanghai]] | [[Swimming at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre backstroke|50 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships|2005 Montreal]] | [[Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre backstroke|50 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships|2007 Melbourne]] | [[Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre backstroke|50 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2007 Melbourne | [[Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100 metre backstroke|100 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|World Championships (SC)]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2008 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2008 Manchester]] | 100 m backstroke}}
{{MedalSilver | 2008 Manchester | 50 m backstroke}}
{{MedalSilver | 2008 Manchester | 200 m medley}}
{{MedalBronze | 2008 Manchester | 100 m medley}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[LEN European Aquatics Championships|European Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2010 European Aquatics Championships|2010 Budapest]] | 50 m backstroke}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2006 European Aquatics Championships|2006 Budapest]] | 4×100 m medley}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2010 European Aquatics Championships|2010 Budapest]] | 100 m backstroke}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[European Short Course Swimming Championships|European Championships (SC)]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2005 European Short Course Swimming Championships|2005 Trieste]] | 50 m backstroke}}
{{MedalBronze | 2005 Trieste | 4×50 m medley}}
{{MedalBronze | 2005 Trieste | 4×50 m freestyle}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Summer Universiade|Summer Universiade]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2005 Summer Universiade|2005 Izmir]] | 50 m backstroke}} 
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]] | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100 metre backstroke|100 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]] | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre backstroke|50 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]] | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100 metre backstroke|100 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Glasgow]]  | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]]  | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre backstroke|50 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]]  | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver |  [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]] | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze |  [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]]| [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Glasgow]] | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre backstroke|50 m backstroke]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Glasgow]] | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100 metre backstroke|100 m backstroke]]}}
}}
'''Liam John Tancock''' (born 7 May 1985) is an English former competitive [[swimming (sport)|swimmer]] who represented Great Britain in the Olympics, FINA world championships, and European championships, and England in the Commonwealth Games.  He specialised in [[backstroke]] and [[medley swimming|individual medley]] events.  He is a three-time world champion and a four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and held the world record in the 50-metre backstroke (long course) for almost a decade.

==Early life==
Born on 7 May 1985,<ref name=telegraphbio/> his first experience of swimming was waiting poolside while his older brother was learning to swim at a swimming school.<ref name=msnhimapril2012>{{cite news|last=Wilson |first=Hugh |title=Liam Tancock, Team GB swimmer talks about the London Olympics |url=http://him.uk.msn.com/exclusives/liam-tancock-team-gb-swimmer-talks-about-the-london-olympics |access-date=7 June 2012 |newspaper=MSN Him |date=2 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507111324/http://him.uk.msn.com/exclusives/liam-tancock-team-gb-swimmer-talks-about-the-london-olympics |archive-date= 7 May 2012 }}</ref> Tancock was competing in local swimming competitions by the age of nine.<ref name=telegraphbio/> Tancock played for [[Exeter Chiefs]] rugby team as a [[Winger (sports)|winger]] until he was thirteen.<ref name=uphillstruggle>{{cite news|last=White|first=Duncan|title=London 2012 Olympics: Liam Tancock relishes the uphill struggle to reach his peak for national swim championships|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/swimming/9116388/London-2012-Olympics-Liam-Tancock-relishes-the-uphill-struggle-to-reach-his-peak-for-national-swim-championships.html|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=2 March 2012}}</ref><ref name=100contenders>{{cite news|title=100 Team GB contenders for London 2012: Liam Tancock|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/14236421|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport}}</ref> His coach, Jon Randall, convinced him to choose swimming over rugby.<ref name=uphillstruggle/> He attended [[Loughborough College]] where he studied [[sports science]] and was awarded with a degree validated by [[Loughborough University]].<ref name=bbcsport2007>{{cite news|title=Tancock sets new British record|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/swimming/6962723.stm|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=24 August 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Liam Tancock|url=http://www.loughboroughswimming.com/profiles.php?id=65|publisher=Loughborough University Swimming|access-date=7 June 2012|archive-date=11 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111183353/http://www.loughboroughswimming.com/profiles.php?id=65|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Swimming career==

===2000===
As a junior for the Exeter Swimming Club, he competed at the British Winter Championship in 2000 at the age of 15. He broke four records and won more medals than any junior under the age of 16 had before him.

===2001===
He followed this with a gold medal at the 2001 Youth Olympic Games.

===2002===
Two golds in 2002 at the World Schools Championships.<ref>{{cite web|title=Liam Tancock – British Swimmer|url=http://www.silverhatchsports.com/internet-services-liam-tancock.html|publisher=Silver Hatch Sports|access-date=7 June 2012}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===2005===
He competed at a senior level for the first time in 2005 at the [[2005 World Aquatic Championships]], where he took the bronze medal in the 50m backstroke.<ref name=sportenglandbio>{{cite web|title=Liam Tancock |url=http://www.thegamesandbeyond.com/PlayerDetails.aspx/514/Liam-Tancock |publisher=Sport England |access-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511054304/http://www.thegamesandbeyond.com/PlayerDetails.aspx/514/Liam-Tancock |archive-date=11 May 2012 }}</ref>

===2007===
At the Japan International Open in August 2007, he won two gold medals. The first was in the 100m backstroke, which broke the European record time, and his second was in the 200m individual medley with a time of 1:59.19, which was only the second time he had finished with a time of under two minutes. It was a new British record, beating the previous record by a second and a half.<ref name=bbcsport2009>{{citation |title=Tancock sets new British record|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/swimming/6962723.stm|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=24 August 2009}}</ref>

===2008===
Tancock won several medals at the 2008 World Short Course Championships in Manchester, including a British, European and Commonwealth record time of 50:14 to take the gold medal in the 100m backstroke. The time was only 0.14 seconds off the world record set by American [[Ryan Lochte]].<ref name=screcord100m/> He also won silver in the 50m backstroke and 200m medley.<ref name=britstowatch>{{citation |title=Brits to watch: Liam Tancock|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7537359.stm|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=4 August 2008}}</ref>

Competing at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]] in the men's 100m backstroke, Tancock finished in sixth position with a time of 53.39,<ref name=swimmingbio>{{cite web|title=Liam Tancock|url=http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/mens-profiles/liam-tancock/116/|publisher=Swimming.org|access-date=7 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415223313/http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/mens-profiles/liam-tancock/116/|archive-date=15 April 2013}}</ref> some 0.21 seconds behind the bronze medal position.<ref name=telegraphbio/> He also competed in the 200m individual medley, finishing in 8th place with a time of 2:00.76.<ref name=swimmingbio/> His preferred event, the 50m backstroke, is not an Olympic event.<ref name=gulfnewsjune2012>{{citation |last=Downer|first=Martin|title=Liam Tancock: A true Brit|url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/other-sports/liam-tancock-a-true-brit-1.1031017|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=Gulf |date=2 June 2012}}</ref> Tancock said of the lack of a 50m event, "There is a 50m at every other major competition bar the Olympics. Don’t ask me why, but it never has been. It is not an issue but, of course, I would like it to be there".<ref name=talent>{{citation |last=Bateman|first=Colin|title=Liam Tancock has Talent to go Distance|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/305313/Liam-Tancock-has-talent-to-go-distance-Liam-Tancock-has-talent-to-go-distance-Liam-Tancock-has-talent-to-go-distance-Liam-Tancock-has-talent-to-go-distance-Liam-Tancock-has-talent-to-go-distance|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=Daily Express|date=1 March 2012}}</ref>

===2009===
He broke his own world record winning the gold medal for 50m backstroke at the [[2009 World Aquatics Championships]]. He had set a time of 24.08 in the semi-finals, but improved it with a time of 24.04 in the final.<ref name="rome2009" /> It was the second gold of the event for the British team, who took home their best ever tally of seven medals in total.<ref name=rome2009>{{citation |title=Tancock claims gold for Britain|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/swimming/8180284.stm|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=2 August 2009}}</ref> He wore a [[bodyskin]] swimsuit which was subsequently banned by [[FINA]] at the start of 2010.<ref name=slowworms>{{citation |last=Gardner|first=Alan|title=Liam Tancock: 'I would always be in the fields looking for slow worms'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jul/14/liam-tancock|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=14 July 2011}}</ref>

===2010===
In the 50m backstroke event at the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] in Delhi, he took the gold medal once more, breaking the Commonwealth Games record with a time of 24.62 in the final.<ref name=2010commongold>{{citation |title=Commonwealth Games 2010: Tancock claims 50m backstroke gold|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9062681.stm|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=5 October 2010}}</ref> He also took a second Commonwealth gold in the 100m backstroke with a time of 53.59.<ref name=swimmingbio/> As of 2010, he was ranked second in the world for the 50m backstroke and third for the 100m,<ref>{{citation |last=Knight|first=Chris|title=Liam Tancock|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/dec/02/liam-tancock|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2 December 2010}}</ref> and following his success at the Commonwealth Games he was named BBC South West's Sportsman of the Year 2010.<ref name=homelife>{{citation |title=Home life in Devon is swimmer Liam Tancock's gold medal|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/swimming/9300079.stm|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=17 December 2010}}</ref>
[[File:London 2012 Aquatics Centre March.jpg|thumb|right|The interior of the London Aquatics Centre, where Tancock qualified for the Olympics and competed during the 2012 Games]]

===2011===
At the [[2011 World Aquatics Championships]] in Shanghai, Tancock retained his world championship crown with a time of 24.5 seconds in the 50m backstroke.<ref>{{citation |title=Liam Tancock wins 50m backstroke gold in Shanghai|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/swimming/14358045|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=31 July 2011}}</ref> It was the second occasion a British male swimmer had retained a world championship title,<ref name=balletsport>{{citation |title=London 2012: Liam Tancock takes up ballet and kick-boxing|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/swimming/17522374|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=29 March 2012}}</ref> and he became the first man to retain the 50m backstroke title.<ref name=100contenders /> He finished sixth in the 100m backstroke with a time of 52.76.<ref name=talent />

===2012===
On 5 March 2012, Tancock won the 100m backstroke final at the British trials with a time of 53.16 seconds in the event held at the [[London Aquatics Centre]]. The victory qualified him for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] as part of the [[Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics|British team]] as the top two of each race qualified automatically.<ref name=talent /><ref>{{citation |title=London 2012: Tancock qualifies for Olympics with 100m win|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/swimming/17266652|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=5 March 2012}}</ref> Whilst competing at the venue, which was the swimming venue at the 2012 Games, he did not find the controversial ceiling and lighting set up distracting, putting it down to the training he conducted for the 2009 World Championships, which were held outside. As part of his training regime for the Games, he took up [[ballet]], [[kickboxing]] and rock climbing in order to improve on his position of sixth at the 2008 Games.<ref name=balletsport /> He also pushed around his coach's car in order to improve his stamina and transfer his 50m backstroke form to the 100m event.<ref name=stayscool/> Despite this, Tancock missed out on a medal as he finished fifth in the men's 100m backstroke final in a time of 53.35 seconds.<ref>{{cite web |title=London 2012 Olympics: Liam Tancock misses out on medal as he finishes fifth in men's 100m backstroke final |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=30 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203050539/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/swimming/9439619/London-2012-Olympics-Liam-Tancock-misses-out-on-medal-as-he-finishes-fifth-in-mens-100m-backstroke-final.html |archive-date=2017-12-03 |url-status=live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/swimming/9439619/London-2012-Olympics-Liam-Tancock-misses-out-on-medal-as-he-finishes-fifth-in-mens-100m-backstroke-final.html}}</ref> He was also part of the Great Britain team that finished fourth in the 4 × 100 m medley relay, where they finished 32 milliseconds behind the Australian team in third.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 4x100m medley relay men results – Swimming – London 2012 Olympics|url = http://www.olympic.org/olympic-results/london-2012/swimming/4x100m-medley-relay-m|website = www.olympic.org|access-date = 8 November 2015}}</ref>  In November 2020, it was reported that  Australia's [[Brenton Rickard]] tested positive for a banned substance which could lead to the GB Team being awarded a retrospective bronze medal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nick |first1=Hope |title=London 2012 swimmers could get retrospective bronze after Brenton Rickard tests positive |work=BBC Sport |date=6 November 2020 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/54844745 |access-date=6 November 2020}}</ref>

===2013===

Tancock achieved the World Championships qualifying time, but the team coach only chose swimmers who had a chance of being at Rio 2016. As a result of the 50m backstroke not being an event at the Olympics, Tancock was not selected for the team.

===2014===
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Tancock won bronze medals in the men's 50 metre backstroke and the 100 metre backstroke and helped England to win the 4 x 100 metre medley.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Glasgow 2014 – Liam Tancock Profile|url = http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/swimming/1023842/liam_tancock.html|website = g2014results.thecgf.com|access-date = 8 November 2015}}</ref>

===2015===
At the age of 30, Tancock qualified for the final of the [[Swimming at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100 metre backstroke|100m backstroke]] at the [[World Aquatics Championships]] in a time of 53.19.

==Personal bests and records held==
;Long course (50 m)
{{swimmingpersonalrecordlisttop|meet=yes}}
{{swimmingrecord
|eventsort = 01
|event = 100&nbsp;m freestyle
|time = 48.76
|recordinfo = 
|date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2009|Mar|19}}
|country = UK
|city = Sheffield
|meet = [[British Swimming Championships (50 m) 2009|British Championships]]
|ref = <ref name=profileofficial />
}}
{{swimmingrecord
|eventsort = 02
|event = 50&nbsp;m backstroke
|time = 24.04
|recordinfo = Former WR
|date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2009|Aug|2}}
|country = ITA
|city = Rome
|meet = [[Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships|World Championships]]
|ref = <ref name=rome2009/>
}}
{{swimmingrecord
|eventsort = 04
|event = 100&nbsp;m backstroke
|time = 52.73
|recordinfo = NR
|date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2009|Jul|28}}
|country = ITA
|city = Rome
|meet = [[Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships|World Championships]]
|ref = <ref name=stayscool>{{cite news|last=Nakrani|first=Sachin|title=Liam Tancock stays cool in the pool as he qualifies for London 2012|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/mar/06/liam-tancock-gemma-spofforth-london-2012|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=6 March 2012}}</ref>
}}
{{swimmingrecord
|eventsort = 06
|event = 200&nbsp;m individual medley
|time = 1:57.79
|recordinfo = 
|date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2008|Apr|01}}
|country = UK
|city = Sheffield
|meet = [[British Swimming Championships (50 m) 2008|British Championships]]
|ref = <ref name=profileofficial /> 
}}
{{end}}

;Short course (25 m)
{{swimmingpersonalrecordlisttop|meet=yes}}
{{swimmingrecord
|eventsort = 01
|event = 50&nbsp;m backstroke
|time = 23.10
|recordinfo = NR
|date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2009|Aug|7}}
|country = UK
|city = Leeds
|meet = Grand Prix
|ref = <ref>{{cite web|title=Leeds Grand Prix SC |url=http://www.liamtancock.com/blog/leeds-grand-prix-sc.php |work=7 August 2009 |publisher=Liam Tancock.com |access-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605222151/http://www.liamtancock.com/blog/leeds-grand-prix-sc.php |archive-date= 5 June 2012 }}</ref>
}}
{{swimmingrecord
|eventsort = 02
|event = 100&nbsp;m backstroke
|time = 50.14
|recordinfo = CR, ER, NR
|date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2008|Apr|10}}
|country = UK
|city = Manchester
|meet = [[2008 FINA Short Course World Championships|World SC Championships]]
|ref = <ref name=screcord100m>{{cite news|last=Lonsbrough|first=Anita|title=Liam Tancock gold medal leads the way|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/swimming/2296996/Liam-Tancock-gold-medal-leads-the-way.html|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 April 2008}}</ref>
}}
{{swimmingrecord
|eventsort = 03
|event = 100&nbsp;m individual medley
|time = 52.22
|recordinfo = NR
|date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2008|Apr|13}}
|country = UK
|city = Manchester
|meet = [[2008 FINA Short Course World Championships|World SC Championships]]
|ref = <ref name=profileofficial /> 
}}
{{swimmingrecord
|eventsort = 04
|event = 200&nbsp;m individual medley
|time = 1:53.10
|recordinfo = NR
|date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2008|Apr|11}}
|country = UK
|city = Manchester
|meet = [[2008 FINA Short Course World Championships|World SC Championships]]
|ref = <ref name=profileofficial /> 
}}
{{end}}
{{swimmingrecordlegend|WR=yes|ER=yes|CR=yes|nation=British}}

==Personal life==
Liam is the younger of 2 boys born for mum Kim; his brother is 2 years older. His "fatboy" nickname originated from his older brother, although he didn't mean it in a negative sense.<ref name=slowworms /> He currently trains at and swims for Loughborough University.<ref name=profileofficial>{{cite web|title=Profile |url=http://www.liamtancock.com/profile.php |publisher=Liam Tancock.com |access-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605202313/http://www.liamtancock.com/profile.php |archive-date= 5 June 2012 }}</ref> He is a supporter of [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] [[association football]] club,<ref name=telegraphbio>{{cite news|title=Liam Tancock|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/Team-GB/competitors/8662540/Liam-Tancock-Team-GB-London-2012-Olympics.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005160606/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/Team-GB/competitors/8662540/Liam-Tancock-Team-GB-London-2012-Olympics.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 October 2011|access-date=7 June 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> and [[Exeter Chiefs]] [[Rugby Union|Rugby]] club<ref>{{cite web|last=Symcox|first=Johnathan|title=60 seconds with Liam Tancock|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/60-seconds-liam-tancock-113923283.html|work=Eurosport|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=16 May 2012}}</ref> Liam is now trained as a level two swimming coach.<ref name=uphillstruggle/> Over his career he has been an ambassador for [[Speedo]] from 2006 to 2012,<ref name="slowworms" /> [[For Goodness Shakes]],<ref>{{cite web|title=For Goodness Shakes Ambassador Liam Tancock Qualifies for Olympics |url=http://www.forgoodnessshakes.com/news/for-goodness-shakes-ambassador-liam-tancock-qualifies-for-olympics/ |publisher=For Goodness Shakes.com |date=7 March 2012 |access-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827010046/http://www.forgoodnessshakes.com/news/for-goodness-shakes-ambassador-liam-tancock-qualifies-for-olympics/ |archive-date=27 August 2012 }}</ref> and [[Gilette]].<ref name=talent />

Tancock has been in a relationship with fellow swimmer [[Caitlin McClatchey]] since 2006, and they were married in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/swimming/2292914/Caitlin-McClatcheys-sacrifices-for-Olympics.html |title=Caitlin McClatchey's sacrifices for Olympics |last=Inverdale |first=John |author-link=John Inverdale |date=27 February 2008|website=[[telegraph.co.uk]]|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://results.glasgow2014.com/athlete/swimming/1026530/caitlin_mcclatchey.html |title=Caitlin McClatchey |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->  |website=[[Glasgow 2014]] |access-date=8 August 2015}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13099219.Swimming__Games_girl/ |title=Swimming: Games girl |last1=Swarbrick |first1=Susan |date=6 April 2013 |website=[[HeraldScotland.com]] |access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110137/http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13099219.Swimming__Games_girl/|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)]]
* [[World record progression 50 metres backstroke]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{World Aquatics}}
* {{Team GB}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|liam-tancock}}
* {{2014 Commonwealth Games profile|swimming/1023842/l_tancock}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510124216/http://www.liamtancock.com/ |date=dmy |title=Official website}}
* [http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/mens-profiles/liam-tancock/ British Swimming profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719150408/http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/mens-profiles/liam-tancock/ |date=19 July 2011 }}
* [http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=6633 British Olympic Association Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203100843/http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=6633 |date=3 February 2010 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before=<br>[[Thomas Rupprath]]<br>Randall Bal|title=[[World record progression 50 metres backstroke|Men's 50-metre backstroke<br>world record-holder]]|years=2 April – 5 December 2008<br>1 August 2009 – 4 August 2018|after=<br>[[Randall Bal]]<br> [[Kliment Kolesnikov]]}}
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{{Footer World LC Champions 50m Backstroke Men}}
{{Footer World SC Champions 100m Backstroke Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 50m Backstroke Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 100m Backstroke Men}}
{{Footer Universiade Champions 50m Backstroke Men}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tancock, Liam}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English male backstroke swimmers]]
[[Category:British male backstroke swimmers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Exeter]]
[[Category:Olympic swimmers for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)]]
[[Category:European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:World record setters in swimming]]
[[Category:Alumni of Loughborough University]]
[[Category:Summer World University Games medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2005 Summer Universiade]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:English male medley swimmers]]
[[Category:British male medley swimmers]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]