‘Waveheart’ Wallace swims off into the sunset with no regrets
DAN Wallace, the selfstyled ‘ Waveheart’ who first came to wider prominence at Glasgow 2014, swam off into the sunset here in the Gold Coast yesterday. Now all he has to do is work out what to do with his hard-earned freedom, writes Stewart Fisher.
While the five-time Commonwealth medallist’s retirement from competing just days before his 25th birthday will surprise many, Wallace resolved months ago that these Games would almost certainly be his last and claiming a further two bronze medals in the Gold Coast seemed as good a way to sign off as any.
He was delighted to pass the metaphorical baton to Scotland’s new swimming sensation Duncan Scott, and said he believed that the 20-year-old phenomenon – who took no fewer than six medals in the pool during these games – has the raw talent and work ethic to make the living out of the sport that he couldn’t.
“I made the decision to stop after this meet about three months ago,” said Wallace.
“I didn’t want to leave it until my last swim because then you base the decision on emotion. I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve so it was a bit easier for me. Physically I think I could go for another couple of years, but mentally I am happy this is it. I am now excited for what is to come.”
Wallace – whose medals here came with the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relay teams – said of Scott: “Duncan is an immensely talented guy. I really hope Duncan could be up with the likes of [Ryan] Lochte.”