Youngest competitor keeps it simple

Togo's 13-year-old swimmer Adzo Kpossi, the youngest competitor at the London 2012 Olympics, trains in a hotel pool and wears costumes bought on sale at the market.

Togo's 13-year-old swimmer Adzo Kpossi, the youngest competitor at the London 2012 Olympics, trains in a hotel pool and wears costumes bought on sale at the market.

Her goal at the Games was simple: to beat her personal best of 44.60sec in the 50m freestyle -- a time nearly twice as long as the 23.73sec world record.

The teenager "has nothing to train with: no starting blocks, no flippers, no goggle straps", her father and coach Kwami Kpossi said.

Due to a dearth of public swimming baths in the west African country's capital Lome, she trains five times a week at two hotel pools. Even without these hurdles, Adzo's training represents a big sacrifice for her modest family.

"The pool is 12 kilometres from our house," her devoted father said.

"It costs us a lot of money. Every three days, I have to fill up the car. But the Togolese Olympic Committee gives us a fixed amount towards the petrol."