David Leith is realistic. At 28 and after two close calls, he is all too aware that this month's trials in Sheffield are his last chance to become an Olympian. But the veteran - at least in swimming terms - is quietly confident that it he can make it third time lucky.

If he doesn't, then he has still got a bankful of memories, including appearances for Scotland in the last three Commonwealth Games (2006, 2002 and 1998) and a load of British caps that included the 2003 World Championships. But a first Olympics would be a huge dollop of icing on the already very palatable cake.

The trials are now just a matter of weeks away, and Leith is focussed on making the grade in the 50m and 100m freestyle. "It's going to be hard, but I've been preparing for the trials all season and everything has gone to plan in training," he said. "Now I'm ready to go for broke in Sheffield.

"This is the third time I've targeted the Olympics, but this is definitely my best chance to make the British team. Both my events are wide open and I'll be shooting for as low times as possible."

As a member of the City of Edinburgh squad coached by the world-renowned Frenchman, Fred Vergnoux, Leith has enjoyed a confidence-boosting build-up to the Sheffield showdown starting on March 31.

A training camp and competition in Australia before Christmas was followed by an eye-catching couple of victories at the Scottish short-course Championships in Glasgow last month and he completes the build-up process at a training camp in Tenerife.

Leith, who also blossomed under the guidance of the first City of Edinburgh coach, Tim Jones, admits he has been lucky to have two such committed coaches. "Fred is a great motivator and the whole City of Edinburgh squad has prepared well for the trials," he said. "My personal aim is to perform as well as possible in Sheffield, and hope it is good enough.

"As long as I produce my best then I'll be satisfied. And even if I don't make the Olympics, then I can still look back on a great career. I've had some amazing experiences. The Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Manchester and Melbourne were all special and I've been in the British team on and off since 2000."

Looking to the future, Leith will leave swimming and venture into what he calls "the real world" armed with a degree in sports science from Napier University.

But his major goal is to make it big as a guitarist. He is a member of a heavy metal band - Arkane Kore - and the five-piece line-up that also includes City of Edinburgh assistant coach, Chris Jones, are already making a name for themselves on the capital’s music scene.

"It's a great alternative to swimming," he admitted of a lifestyle more associated with late nights in bars as opposed to the clean living discipline of early morning training sessions. "We'd love to land a record deal and it's something I'd really like to do more of in the future.

But, at the moment, he has only one venue where he hopes to hit all the right notes. And that is the Ponds Forge Swimming Pool in Sheffield - and the week-long gig starts on the last day of this month.

EB
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