Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
ROUND-UP More medals for Perth City swimming duo
Stephen Milne claimed gold at the World Championships in Budapest i n the men’s 4 x 200 metres freestyle relay alongside fellow Brits Duncan Scott, a former Strathallan School pupil, Nick Grainger, James Guy and Calum Jarvis.
On top of that, Scott McLay has added to his medal tally by winning a silver medal in the 50 metres freestyle at the British Junior Summer Meet in Sheffield.
The World Championship team set a new British record in the final, smashing their previous best from last year’s Rio Olympics silver medal as they successfully defended the title they won in Kazan in 2015.
Stephen, who swam the lead off leg in Rio and led the team out again in Budapest, was delighted to have contributed to their success.
He said: “It was an absolute honour to be one of the five British men who went out today to defend the 4x200 freestyle world title and to watch the flag rise in Budapest.
“Thank you to everyone for your support and good wishes. It’s been a fantastic way to end this season.”
The post-Olympic year has proved challenging for several Team GB swimmers, and the Perth City athlete, who has re-focused towards the shorter freestyle events from his previous 1,500 metres target, has spoken about finding his way back from the post-Rio dip that followed the Olympic high.
“It has been the start of a new four the year cycle towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but it was a 10-year goal to get to 2016.
“I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of the 1,500. There has been a different emphasis this year and I’ve not quite settled into the new pattern and race strategy yet.
“With this first season under my belt, I’ve begun to feel more in touch with what I need to work on in training and how to refine things i n order to progress.”
The 23 year old, who holds the Scottish 400 800 and 1,500 metre freestyle records, has been coached by Perth City head coach Ann Dickson for the last 15 years.
He said: “Ann has encouraged me to develop my confidence i n the shorter events.
“She has worked hard to help me to see the potential without the 1,500 focus.
“It’s been tough to shift my sights away from that long held goal but I’m looking forward to what 2018 and beyond brings.”
Although Ann still coaches Perth City Swim Club’s upand-coming swimmers on a daily basis, she has amassed a wealth of experience at Performance level, and Stephen’s international pedigree speaks for itself.
From his first Great Britain selection for the European Junior Championships i n 2012, through silver medal success with Team Scotland at his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow 2014, gold at the European Championships in Berlin later that same summer, his maiden World Champion-Ann has been there.
Throughout, Stephen has continued to undertake the bulk of his training in Perth, with additional 25 metre training supported by Live Active Leisure and Dundee University.
His regime also includes access to 50 metre training at Dundee Olympia, supported by Dundee Leisure & Culture and Scottish Swimming, and a weekly 50 metre session at the University of Stirling.
Stephen receives support within Scotland through the Tayside and Fife Institute of Sport, and is also supported at United Kingdom level through British Swimming, the National Lottery and United Kingdom Sport.
PERTH City Swim Club has celebrated more success on the international scene.