This time next year we will all be glued to the Commonwealth Games. And that’s the time when many of Scotland’s swimmers could suddenly become household names.

Remember Melbourne 2006? Gregor Tait, David Carry and Caitlin McClatchey all hit the headlines when they scooped two golds a-piece.

So can Scotland make another huge splash in New Delhi in 12 months’ time? Scottish Swimming’s Performance Director Ally Whike is cautiously optimistic, and certainly very hopeful of increasing the number of swimmers in the Scottish line-up.

“We won 12 medals, including six golds, three years ago and it’s going to be very tough to repeat that success,” reasoned Whike. “Last time, I think we caught Australia on the hop and the Canadians weren’t too strong. 

“But I’m sure the Aussies will be aiming to make amends this time round and Canada is now much stronger. England are always going to be hard to beat and even the South Africans have improved over recent years. In Melbourne, we had a squad of 18, but I’m hopeful that we can raise the number to around 24.”?

The selection policy reflects Scotland’s rise in standard. “We’re going to have one-off trails at the Scottish Championships next June,” Whike explained. “It’s the first time we’ve done it this way and there is so much strength in depth that it is going to be a very exciting few days. There will be a maximum of three swimmers selected in each event.”

But he added that there will be one concession. “If a swimmer produces a really great time at the British Championships in March then we will allow them to swim through the Scottish Championships so they can really concentrate on winning medals in Delhi.”  

So who could be mounting the podium in India? Carry and McClatchey are still very much part of the set-up, while even veteran Tait, who will be 30 next year, cannot be ruled out. He moved to Australia after the Olympics last year, but Whike revealed:  “I know he’s still paddling about down there, so you never know.”

Kris Gilchrist, who will be one of the favourites for the 200m breaststroke, and fellow-Olympians Robbie Renwick and Andy Hunter will also be strong challengers, while Hannah Miley stands out as a real world-class star in the making. 

The 20-year-old has reached world No.1 in the 400m individual medley and the all-round talent could be ready to hit a great run that will, hopefully, also include the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. 

Lewis Smith, who made the British team in the 400m medley at the word championships this summer, and Michael Jamieson are two newer names, while the Stirling pair of Jak Scott and Lucy Ellis are two youngsters showing great promise. 

Robyn Matthews, formerly of City of Edinburgh and now training in America, and her former capital colleague, Megan Gilchrist, will also have Delhi firmly on their minds.

With the countdown now underway, Whike is hopeful that Scotland’s swimmers will, once agin, start to appear more regularly in the limelight. There was a great fanfare following Melbourne 2006, but the tidal wave of publicity soon ebbed away. 

“I wasn’t too surprised,” admitted Whike. “We are never going to be u there with football and rugby. But if we can just keep putting swimmers in teams and winning medals then, hopefully, our swimmers will attract more interest.”

And New Delhi 2010 could certainly be the perfect platform to raise the image and maintain it right through 2012  and then 2014. “For s many, the Commonwealth Games will be a springboard towards London 2012,” concluded Whike. “This is the start of a very exciting period for Scottish Swimming.”

EB
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