(the first set of questions are from Nicola, Wionna and Victoria, who emailed their questions for Alison to Karen)

What age were you when you joined Milngavie & Bearsden? I was 8 years old.

How much training did you do when you were eleven? I trained four one and half hour sessions per week.

What standard of competition had you reached when you were 12? I was on the West District team.

Was freestyle always your best stroke? No, I was on the West District team for 100 backstroke.

As a young swimmer who inspired you? No one, I didn't have an idol.

How did you cope when you were at school fitting in school work and training? I just managed my time, I did whatever it took.

Do you prefer a 25m or 50m pool? I prefer a 50m pool.

How many hours a week do you train now? I train 12 hours in the pool, 5 hours in post-swim dryland and 7 hours in the gym. So that's 24 hours a week.

When did you decide to make swimming your life? When I moved to Canada in 1996.

What are you most proud of as a swimmer? I am very proud that I won a Commonwealth Gold medal for Scotland and that I am the first swimmer to make 5 Olympics.

What has been the memorable time in your life? Swimming and non swimming? Marrying my husband Gary and getting my MBE.

Have you ever been so low that you thought about giving up? If so, what made you continue? I haven't really had such a low point that I wanted to give up. I am now a professional swimmer, being paid for my sport, and I take things as they happen.

Do you have any lucky mascots? I have a lucky wee hedgehog called Harold. He has been to every competition I have been to, including four Olympics. He is probably the most travelled hedgehog in the world.

What has kept you training for so long? I continue to reach higher and higher. I haven't reached my full potential and am keen to continue to do so.

What goes through your head when you are on the blocks? I am the greatest!

When you swim at a competition for the last time, how do you think you will feel and will you miss swimming when you retire? I plan on swimming in the swimming World Cups this season and I hope that I win enough money so I can help pay off our mortgage.

How do you want to be remembered? I want to be remembered as a great sprinter from Scotland.

The swimmers also had some questions about Alison's Olympic career.

How did you do at your first Olympics (1988) and how did you feel? I didn't do very well, but I swam in the 50m freestyle and came 25th. I felt very nervous.

Any special training for Athens? What is your most important preparation for Greece? I am not doing anything different for Athens, but I am training much better lately. My most important preparation is to stay healthy.

From Karen - Lanark ASC Coach

Most important question. Did you bring the cats over with you from Canada? Yes we did, all three. It was very traumatic for us as they had to be in quarantine for 5 months, but we could visit once per week. After they came out things were much better.

Benefits to you living in Canada? Benefits living in Scotland? In Canada I am quite anonymous and am not asked for appearances, so we don't have to do anything extra besides training, however they can be fun as I have found recently. In Scotland we can go to my parents house on Sundays and visit with all of my family.

Bill Sweetenham has made his mark on British swimming. Do you regret that his methods and vision were not available to you when you began your international career? Luckily Bill agreed to allow Gary to continue with his training methods without interruption. This has been very good.

I was privileged to watch you winning gold for Scotland at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Any difference competing for Scotland and Great Britain? I like to compete for Scotland a little more because it seems more like my homeland. But I am very proud to represent all of the UK at international competitions as a Scottish swimmer.

Your 50m freestyle time of 24.68 secs in Manchester would have placed you fourth in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Final. What time do you think will medal in Athens? I think a medal will be won if a swimmer swims faster than that 24.50s.

How many coaches have you had in your career? I have had only three coaches.

Gary, your husband is also your coach and is now coaching at Tayside. What is his and your opinion of Scottish Age Group Swimming? Gary says; Scottish swimming is on the verge of something very special. It has all the tendencies of a country which is determined to improve and is putting the right things in place to enhance that improvement. My opinion is that swimmers need to be tougher and more determined to reach lofty goals if they want to be any good.

As Commonwealth Champion and soon to be five time Olympian do you think that Scottish Swimming could make more use of you to promote the sport and encourage young swimmers as you always seem to make yourself accessible to children at Meets? I have had to hire a manager to organise my time spent promoting swimming. Things are moving fast and once I retire from swimming I will be able to do more.

You have the chance to pick 2 Dream Teams; 4 x 100m free and 4 x 100m medley relays. You will be swimming the anchor leg! Name your swimmers (swimmers past and present, male or female, any nationality) and why they would be in your teams.
I would pick for the 4x100 freestyle:
Lead off: Dawn Fraser (an inspirational person)
Second: Duke Kamahomoku ( a great Hawaiian swimmer)
Third: Johnny Weissmuller (who wouldn't want Tarzan on your team?)

And for the 4 x 100 Medley:
BACK: Mark Tewksbury (because he trained with Gary)
BREAST: Brendan Hansen (because he broke the world record yesterday)
FLY: Mary T. Meagher (because she was so ahead of her time)

You compete for M & B at Meets like the Nationals. Ever thought a change would do you good? How about Lanark as your second claim Club?!!

Thank you Ali. All the best to you and Gary in Athens.