THE distinctive Scouse accent of Daniel Purvis drifts down the line.
It has been a busy few weeks for the 21-year-old gymnast who, fresh from a third consecutive British senior all-around title and a historic team gold at the European Championships, was announced as part of a five-strong Olympic Games men's squad on July 4.
"It's been a long road," he said. "While I thought I would be in the team, you never want to take it for granted. I was emotional when I got the phone call. The first people I told were my parents who are made up for me. It still all seems a bit surreal saying, 'I'm in the Olympic team'."
His elation is palpable as Purvis talks animatedly about picking up his official Team GB kit, the much maligned Stella McCartney attire which has polarised opinion with its deconstructed Union Flag design. Does he like it then?
"It looks pretty good," he said. "I'm proud I'll get to wear it. We went to Loughborough [the Team GB official preparation camp headquarters] to get it and it was an entirely different experience to what I expected. You get a list and then a personal shopper takes you round and gets everything you need. It was pretty exciting."
Purvis may speak with dulcet tones that wouldn't seem out of place on the set of a Phil Redmond television show, but for all intents and purposes he is Scottish. Although he was born in Liverpool and brought up on Merseyside, his mother Denise hails from Dundee and Purvis represented Scotland at the North European Championships and hopes to do the same at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Lacking the Braveheart, dyed-in-the-wool credentials of the likes of Andy Murray, how Scottish does Purvis truly feel? "I always love spending time in Scotland," he said. "I did the Glasgow Grand Prix last year and got such fantastic support. Although I don't live in Scotland, it felt like a home event."
Can he do a Scottish accent? Purvis laughs. "Err, I can," he said, neatly sidestepping my request. "Although it's not one I'm the best at."
Nevertheless, Purvis will be hoping the nation will get behind him when, in a little under two weeks on July 28, he makes his Olympic debut alongside team-mates Louis Smith, Kristian Thomas, Sam Oldham and Max Whitlock. A reserve in Beijing four years ago, he is looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the likes of Japanese star Kohei Uchimura and Germany's Philipp Boy on the world's biggest sporting stage.
Purvis, who finished last year the as No 1 ranked male gymnast in the world, would be the first to admit, however, he is no stranger to pre-competition jitters and will be working closely with a dedicated sports psychologist on managing his nerves in the Olympic pressure cooker atmosphere.
"Before the actual competition, thinking about it and going over everything in my head, that is when it affects me most," he said. "When I'm out there competing I tend to be able to shut everything out and focus on the task in hand. The bit before, the build-up, is the worst. I try not to overthink it otherwise I can find it hard to sleep.
"One of the techniques I've been taught is to focus on my breathing because the psychologists say once you do that, you can focus on thinking rationally again rather than your heart pounding, adrenalin flowing and getting all worked up. I find that helps calm me down."
When asked about his Olympic ambitions he is sanguine but down to earth. "I think going into London 2012 we have an outside chance of a team medal," he said. "It is going to be hard. Top five would be the ideal outcome, although we have to qualify first so that is the main objective. I would love to qualify for the all-around and floor finals too. The aim will be for a medal there and I believe I have a good chance of doing that."
Team captain Smith is the self-described joker of the British gymnastics squad. How does Purvis fit into the mix?
"I'm quite laid back," he said. "I'm not as outgoing as some of the other lads, but I enjoy being part of the team. Kristian [Thomas] is a fantastic mate of mine. I always look up to him, even things like what time to go get dinner, he is a great guy and has almost a kind of big brother role.
"Max [Whitlock] is a funny lad, he is one of youngest in the squad and we get on well. Sam [Oldham] too, he's brilliant and a real team player. We have all known each other for years."
Notably absent from the line-up is fellow Scot Daniel Keatings who, having battled an ankle ligament injury in recent months, failed to make the cut. Keatings will go to London as a reserve.
"It was sad and emotional for everyone when he didn't make the team," said Purvis. "Dan is trying his best to stay strong for the sake of the team but he is, of course, disappointed."
Training on average 30 hours a week under the tutelage of Jeff Brookes at Southport YMCA and Andrei Popov at the British Gymnastics HQ in Lilleshall, Purvis will taper his programme in the final countdown to the Games.
"Right now the key is to get my routines as stable as possible and then get out of the gym, rather than sitting there dwelling on it and over- analysing which can be mentally tiring," he said.
"I had a really good weekend at the British Championships but there are things I can improve on technically, little details that will matter and, in an Olympic competition, could make the difference between second and third. I'm trying to get my routines perfect."
His down time, Purvis says, is suitably low key. "I'm big on the PlayStation, so I usually take that with me when I'm away competing," he said. "I like things like Call of Duty, quite a lot of the shooting games. I will take it to London, although I've heard there's quite a bit to do in the Olympic Village so I'm looking forward to that."
Making the Olympic team, he said, made all the sacrifices he and his PE teacher parents Denise and Robert had made in the past decade worthwhile. "Without the support of my family I wouldn't be doing this. They have had to give up a lot to take me to and from the gym each day," Purvis said.
"For me, one of the hardest things was being at school and everyone else going out to parties when I couldn't. That is difficult as a teenager, having to stay in when you know all of your mates are at a party. I've missed out on holidays – I don't think I've had a proper one for about six years.
"That is something I plan to do after the Olympics. I've booked a holiday with my mates to Spain. It will be a bit of lads' holiday. I'm looking forward to relaxing, getting away and chilling on the beach."
Hopefully with a medal round his neck.
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