Having already reached an Olympic final in Beijing two years ago, swimmer Robbie Renwick is already recognised as one of our most talented sportsmen. Over the next few months, he aims to become a Scottish superstar. 

The European Championships in Budapest in August will be the first check-mark in his bid for a glorious summer of achievement. But the main goal is to hit a peak at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October. In India, he intends to be wrapped in a Saltire of success.

With a gold in the 400m freestyle and a silver from the 200m event at the British Gas Swimming Championship in Sheffield at the end of March, the 21-year-old has already qualified for the Europeans and his selection for New Delhi should be rubber stamped at the Scottish Commonwealth Games trials in Glasgow at the end of this month.

“I’m fortunate because I have already got the qualifying times, so as long as three swimmers don’t go faster at Tollcross this month then I’ll be in the Commonwealth team,” explained Renwick. “It means I don’t really have to prepare specifically for the trials, but can look forward and focus on the Europeans and the rest of the season.

“My goal for the Commonwealth Games is definitely to get on the podium. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I wanted gold. I’m hoping to be swimming the 400m, the 200m and the 4 x 200m freestyle relay. I’d love to get three golds – but, then again, wouldn’t everybody?” 

But whatever unfolds over the next few months, any moments of triumph will also be tinged with sadness. It was during the British Championships in March that Robbie’s long time coach, Eileen Adams, passed away after losing her logn and courageous battle with cancer.

Eileen coached Robbie at City of Aberdeen during his campaign in the lead up to the 2008 Olympics, and they both moved south when she took over the post of head coach at City of Glasgow at the end of 2008. 

“Eileen had been ill for a while, but it was still a huge shock to lose her,” said Robbie.  “It was so sad, but I know Eileen would have wanted all the Glasgow squad to keep going. We are now coached by Graeme Wardell who worked closely with Eileen, so it has been a fairly smooth transition. But the whole squad has been deeply affected. 

“But the best thing we can do is train hard and get the medals that would have made Eileen so proud. Anything that I achieve this summer will be dedicated to her.”

A busy lad, Robbie combines his swimming with his studies for a degree in sports engineering – a new course – at Strathclyde University. He is also fortunate to be backed by the Edinburgh company, Red Sky Management, run by former Scotland rugby internationalists Rowen and Rhona Shepherd.

“Sports engineering is a good subject for a swimmer and might enable me to work with a company such as Speedo and work on the development of swim suits in the future,” he continued. “It’s a four year curse and I’m hoping to go straight through university. But I might take a break during the Olympic year in 2012. 

“It’s also been great that I’ve been taken on by Red Sky.  They have helped raise my profile and that is sure to continue and grow in the build-up to 2012.”
 
London 2012 is, of course, the potential pot o gold at the end of Robbie’s swimming rainbow. He knows that home success under the Olympic spotlight would be the ultimate glory.

EB
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