Dunford duo ready for London

The brothers are up against American contenders Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps at this year’s summer Olympics.

The Dunford brothers of Kenya are perfectly used to statistical milestones, but they have been busy training in Italy, hoping to crescendo at this week’s London Summer Olympics.

Jason has been a prominent swimmer, collecting a plethora of international medals and holding on to fifth position worldwide. Now David is preparing to outshine his brother.

The brothers are up against formidable American contenders Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps.

David is a fine exponent of the art of refusing to buckle under in the face of adversity. Devastatingly fast, his stamina and resilience have few equals.

On the cusp of his 23rd birthday, David looks as vibrant and indomitable as Jason, unfazed by the Olympic hype. David has everything called for in a star — pace, vision, skill and nerve.

Father Martin, the big chief of the Tamarind/ Carnivore restaurant group, is a strong influence on his sons, raising them to be swimmers almost from birth.

Mother Geraldine, daughter of the famous Abraham Block, founder of Block Hotels, is marketing executive of Tamarind Management but is permanently on hand to cheer on her sons during swimming competitions.

The whole family chill out in the ocean for hours, surfing and playing water sports.

Third brother Robert is a graduate of the London School of Economics, where he was captain of the Rugby Club. He is a phenomenal swimmer by any standards, but chooses not to do it competitively.

David is considered the most promising young swimming aspirant in Kenya’s history, having participated in the World Championships, All Africa Games, Beijing Olympics, Melbourne, Delhi, plus plenty more.

He reflects on sanitary conditions in Algiers and Delhi as being quite intolerable, but has otherwise been very comfortable with living conditions in other countries.

Obviously, swimming has its negatives, when temperatures are absolutely freezing. Not many pools are heated in winter, but Olympians acclimatise faster than the ordinary casual floater!

David has had an extraordinary scholastic career. Having thrived academically in Kenton College, Marlborough, and Stanford University, gaining scientific/ management/engineering degrees, he is already working in the technology sector.

David gained a major scholarship to Marlborough as one of four, in a class of 200.

David and Jason continue to be coached by Skip Kenney, but the Italian connection is world renowned sprint expert, Andrea Di Nino, who is their technical advisor.