Heavyweights of pool train with boxing champion Anthony Joshua

Boxing champion Anthony Joshua has given some of Britain’s top swimmers advice on how to pack a punch at the Olympics.

Swimmers from the Loughborough National Performance Centre were invited to train with 28-year-old Joshua ahead of his world heavyweight title fight against Russia’s Alexander Povetkin, at Wembley Stadium, on 22 September.

Adam Peaty, Sarah Vasey, Luke Greenbank, Jarvis Parkinson and Ed Baxter were shown the ropes at Joshua’s training session at his Sheffield base.

Loughborough Head Coach Mel Marshall said: “We are two years away from Tokyo 2020 and we want our swimmers to be in the best position possible and ensure they have a great journey with us.

Tactical advantage

“Both at Loughborough and at Bath we want to offer these amazing opportunities for our swimmers to ensure they are not only prepared physically for the Olympics, but mentally too.

“We would be happy to have AJ over to the pool any time he fancies a bit of coaching – everyone had a great time and I want to thank GB Boxing for giving us the time today.”

Joshua, who holds three of the four major world titles, won his Olympic title in the Super-heavyweight class at London 2012 and is undefeated across all 21 of his professional fights.

He has expressed an interest in looking at other sports and activities, such as chess, to be able to give him a tactical advantage over his competitors.