The London 2012 Games are now 500 days from becoming a reality. We have already seen a lot of coverage online, in papers and on the TV, but what of the athletes – those super humans who can transform Team GB into a home frenzy in just over 15 months time….?

It is not often that you get a glimpse in the life of an Olympic Gold Medallist, World Record Holder and Member of the Order of the British Empire – let alone one who is embarking on an intensive training regime in order to defend his title at next year’s Olympic Games – but then there are not many Olympians as humble, personable and business savvy as rowing sensation Zac Purchase.

Three years ago, Zac took gold in the Lightweight Double Sculls alongside rowing partner Mark Hunter, one of Team GB’s haul of 19 gold medals at Beijing 2008, beating Greece into second place by almost three seconds. Since then, he has appeared on countless TV shows and made that celebrated trip to Buckingham Palace to collect the MBE from HRH The Prince of Wales.

While rowing remains one of the UK’s most revered and successful sports in the Olympic Games, its stars are some of the country’s untapped success stories. Companies can derive waves of positive exposure from an association with a Team GB gold medallist while intrinsically building an unconscious link between brand and one of the world’s most watched sporting events. Rowing is precisely the sort of clean, untarnished and historic sports we have – and what brand would not want to be seen in that sort of overwhelmingly positive light.

Zac took time out from his hectic schedule to speak to The UK Sports Network.

Zac, we are 500 days away from the London Olympic Games – what does that landmark mean to you as a competing athlete?

“With 500 days to go you can guarantee that the athletes who are serious not just about competing at the London games but winning as well will be training hard. It will be just another day of pushing limits and maximising opportunities. The countdown timer on my website is a constant reminder that I need to be doing all I can on a daily basis to ensure I get the result I’m after. It’s a great reminder that there is a reason for all of the hard work along the way.”

Does being the reigning gold medal holder for the lightweight double sculls add pressure?

“I try to set myself exceptionally high standards when it comes to competing and producing the best race I can on the day. The pressure from the crowd is a welcome relief from the pressure I put myself under. We raced at Beijing as favourites having not been beaten in the 2008 season, so I hope we are learning the best ways to use that adrenaline!”

What does your training regime entail?

“It’s a fairly monotonous regime to be honest, usually 3 sessions per day with a day off every 2 weeks. We have a good mix between endurance and technique on the water mixed up with weights and the dreaded Concept II rowing machine – every rower loathes the solitude of an ergo! We then have to ensure we get the most suitable recovery (usually an afternoon kip!) and also repair our bodies with a good diet and help from Science in Sport’s drinks.”

What does London hosting the Olympic Games mean to you?

“What more can an athlete ask for? Not only the opportunity to race at the most important sporting event in the world, in front of a huge, interested and excited crowd but also to be doing it in your own country, with the crowd singing your national anthem. Beijing was a fantastic experience, but I expect London will, for me, massively exceed the 2008 Games.”

How do you use social media platforms to interact with the public?

“It’s great to give people an insight into what I’m up to on a daily (or even hourly!) basis. My twitter is @ZacPurchase and I try to answer most questions! Facebook (Official Zac Purchase) is great too for sharing pictures and relevant links/articles that I think other people might enjoy as well. Of course my website has more general background information about me and my journey through the sport, as well as ways for anyone to get in touch.”

How different is the world of rowing to other perhaps higher profile sports in terms of public engagement?

“Rowers in general are great. We are, as a breed, happy to spend time talking to people and get to know them. Sometimes in other sports the athletes’ time is so important, and the demands on them are so great that they lose sight of this really key aspect. Public engagement is great fun too; we occasionally get let out of our training centre and allowed into the real world and I tell you, it’s a welcome relief.”

What commercial opportunities does rowing offer to brands?

“Rowing can offer brands a stable and consistent image of sustained successful performance. Rowing in Great Britain has gone from strength to strength over the years and I know that brands love to be associated with sports that provide positive messages like that. Also, with the Olympics just around the corner there is a massively heightened awareness of the sport and the athletes involved with it. Any brand associated with a successful athlete will be synonymous with and part of that success on a world stage.”

You are also a popular public speaker, what does your repertoire consist of?

“I talk to many different types and sizes of audiences and tailor what I’m talking about to each one. It’s great to know a bit about the audience beforehand and try to match up some of my experiences in sport to aims or objectives that they have as a group. Having said that, the ‘human’ side of the story is also quite important and people enjoy hearing about the behind the scenes information and a more personal insight into my experiences at the Beijing Games.”

Does your ‘act’ appeal to a wide range of audiences, or just rowing fanatics?

“I know not a huge number of people have an understanding of the sport, so I try to keep away from any of the technical aspects or any of the day to day drudgery. Rowing fanatics might actually be a little disappointed that I don’t waffle on about it more often.”

What do you think British sports fans can expect from the Games next year?

“Given what the country achieved in Beijing, I know that as long as people keep supporting the athletes we can produce more and more thrilling competition. We are a hugely driven group of people, determined and ambitious. With the right people around us and the right support there is no reason that Great Britain can enjoy a month of win after win after win.”