GOLD COAST 2018

HISTORY-CHASING Hannah Miley has turned swimming into an art form – but there’s only one colour she wants in her book.

The Inverurie 28-year-old produced back-to-back Commonwealth gold medals in Delhi and Glasgow as she cemented her place amongst the world’s elite.

But as she prepared for her bid to become the first Scot in any sport to win three straight in the same event, Miley revealed she has been steadying her nerves with colouring books.

The former World and European champion will set the tone for Team Scotland as she goes off in the heats of the 400m individual medley first thing on Thursday morning in the Optus Aquatics Centre.

And she’s hoping keeping her mind occupied with staying inside the lines will help her in the lane.

Miley laughed and said: “It’s the adult kind of colouring book, they’re quite intricate, with flowers and patterns involved.

“It was actually my old team-mate Kirsty Balfour, not long after the Games in Glasgow, she was on a couple of training camps with me.

“She had a kids’ colouring book and always used to sit and colour it in.

“We all used to say to her, ‘What are you doing?’ But whenever it was someone’s birthday she would rip a page out and use that as a basis for a birthday card.

“That was quite nice so I thought I would try it – and I really enjoy it.

“My only problem this week is I’ve forgotten my pencil sharpener!”

After two weeks of quality prep for Gold Coast though, her pencil case is the only thing lacking sharpness.

After the gut-wrenching split-second near-misses and disappointments on the big stage of the past four years, in the Olympics and the Worlds, Miley is psychologically and physiologically ready.

In her fourth Games, she knows the drill well enough.

She said: “Yeah, the making history thing is there but whether I achieve it or not, it’s not going to be the end of me.

“If I can achieve it, great. If I don’t, I still know I’ve made my fourth Games and attempted it.

“And after the first one being in Melbourne, I’ve been getting a couple of flashbacks this week. It’s nice being back in Australia, like it has gone full circle.”

HANNAH MILEY