Why Michael Phelps holds no fear for Libyan swimmer Sofyan El Gadi

"My dad and sister were there in Libya during the whole time but thankfully they were both ok," he says. "My dad made sure they were away from danger."

His father's profession during the turmoil was somewhat dangerous, though, in that he provides medical supplies and equipment to companies and hospitals. "During that time, he was supplying medical supplies to the freedom fighter side so, of course, it was dangerous," adds his son.

While his family survived without any tragedy, El Gadi lost a close friend, who might well have been carrying the Libyan flag instead of him for his nation at the Games.

Ezzideen Tlish represented his country in taekwondo at the Beijing Games but was also a doctor and treated anti-Gaddafi fighters.

El Gadi takes up the story: "He was in charge of anaesthetics at the hospital where he worked and he was shot dead in the hospital as he worked by soldiers loyal to the Gadaffi regime. I didn't find out for some time what had happened. It was only when I saw his coach without Ezzideen and I asked 'where is he?' that he told me the story. It was a very tough time but there are sadly many stories like that."

While El Gadi avoided trouble in Libya himself, he was living in Cairo at the time of the Egypt Revolution.

"Thankfully that was much shorter, lasting only just over two weeks but it was terrifying to live there," he recalls. "I had a tank outside my apartments there for the whole time and we had to make road blocks outside there, partly as from day one all they had let all the prisoners out from Cairo.

"So my brother and I used to do the nightwatch until seven or eight in the morning, and check IDs of people that we didn't recognise from our neighbourhood. In my neighbourhood we caught I think 11 prisoners."

His first port of call after the Games is to return to Libya and to see his parents for the first time in nine months, and he is relishing the prospect.

After that, he will return to Canada to continue his studies but dreams, in the future, of settling in Libya with the rest of his family. Prior to that, is the small matter of the Olympics.

Of his Games ambitions, he says: "It is the greatest thing to represent my country. I want to let everyone in the world know we're out there. To get to raise the flag and compete for my country is the biggest honour and best experience of my life."

He has been UK based since the start of June, training at the University of Bath's pool before moving to the Olympic Village in July. Life in Bath has been in contrast to his more recent experiences in Egypt.

"I only meant to be there for three weeks but I loved it so much I asked to stay," he adds. "It's beautiful and very nice and relaxing. I miss the people there as well already."

It is not Phelps that he idolises but his father, who swam at national level when he was younger. El Gadi says: "I don't know how to explain what he means to me. He's the one I lean on in swimming and in life. He always helped me out and he's always kept us safe."