U.S. swimming star Gary Hall, Jr. answers questions from Sydney.

Question: You didn't go to Brisbane to train with the team before the Olympics, why not?

Gary Hall Jr: Well, I wanted to get into a routine here and I felt comfortable in the surroundings of the Olympic village. My coach was also here and I wanted to make sure there weren't going to be complications with my diabetes.

Gary Hall, Jr. talks about his rivalry with Alexander Popov.(Allsport)

Question: Speaking of your diabetes, how did things change after finding out you had the disease.

Gary Hall Jr: My routine has changed some. It wasn't an easy adjustment, but it was something that was necessary. I made the changes needed and tried to do my best to be consistent with those changes. I just realized that I had no choice in the matter. That makes it a lot easier, doing things properly; strict diet and exercise and there were some lifestyle changes. Avoiding complications is something worth doing. It wasn't easy to force myself to eat on a schedule and not miss a meal which I was accustomed to doing sometimes and I do miss some foods.

Question: You broke a decade-old American record in the 50-meter free with a time of 21.76 seconds, and your time was the second fastest in swim history. What was your reaction when you found out how fast you swam?

Gary Hall Jr: I was more pleased that I had made the Olympic team than breaking the record because making the team was more important to me. Making the team was what I had been training for. The 100-meters was up in the air and I wasn't sure that I would even swim in the 100m since I hadn't been training as hard for it as I was for the 50m. It had been two years since I swam the 100m in a major competition and wasn't sure if it would be possible to make the team especially with my diabetes.

Question: The Australian media really got on your case after you made comments about beating the Australian's during the Olympics. One of the Australian swimmers, Kieren Perkins called you a "drug cheat." Has that been a problem?

Gary Hall Jr: It was very unexpected. I got off the plane and my face was on the cover of the paper. I was disappointed and shocked by the phrase that Perkins said. It wasn't very sportsmanlike. Maybe he was trying to be funny, but it didn't come out that way and it wasn't a really thought out phrase on his part.

Question: You and Alexander Popov have been battling for the title of 'fastest swimmer,' it that how you see it coming done?

Gary Hall Jr: There are a lot of swimmers from around the world who will be giving the American's a run for their money. I feel my biggest competition will come from Anthony Ervin, my training partner. He has shown what he can do. His time at the trials was the second fastest in a field of eight. Popov hasn't been that fast in a field of eight yet. I believe that you will see a world record broken.

Question: There has been a lot of talk about the new 'body suits' that a lot of swimmers have been wearing. Do you feel that they deserve all this attention?

Gary Hall Jr: No, not really. They are 95% hype. It is still swimming that wins events. In history, during an Olympic year, there are always records broken when people train for the Games. Swimming comes in periods of four year increments and you will see more records broken and you always have regardless of technology.

Question: After you are done with your events, are you going to try to see any of the other sporting events?

Gary Hall Jr: I would like to. I am a big fan of boxing and would like to see some of that. The athletes get some tickets and I will have to see what they are offering. I would also like to see some soccer.

• More with Gary Hall, Jr.: 9/14
• Voices from Sydney