Grist to the Milne for busy Stephen
Stephen Milne shows off his silver at Perth Leisure Pool Perth swim star Stephen Milne has a massively busy and important year ahead as he eyes a place at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
He was in Tenerife for a Scottish team training camp until yesterday– but there weren’t many chances to catch some winter sun.
And from today he will begin an eye-watering schedule of events to ensure top form ahead of April when the British Championships is one of just a handful of chances to make the nomination grade.
Under rules set down by British Swimming for its funded athletes, the 22-year-old former Perth Academy pupil will be expected to compete in the 19th Luxembourg Euromeet, which runs from January 17-19. Milne will turn out in the 200m and 400m freestyle events which are to be held on days two and three.
Catching breath and just having time to consider his form after that, his diary sees him pencilled in for the SASA Midland District Long Course Championships at Dundee Olympia on February 4.
Then on February 18 and 19, it’s the BUCS (British Universities) Long Course Championships, Ponds Forge at Sheffield.
Milne will be in the 200, 100 and 400m freestyle, competing as a guest by arrangement with British Swimming as he is no longer a matriculated student, having suspended his course to concentrate on the sport.
In early March, another British Swimming specified meet will have him at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis, competing in the 200, 400, and 1500 freestyle – and all the time vying against other top swimmers.
Then the Rio Olympics silver medallist jets to Scotland for the Edinburgh International Swim Meet at the Royal Commonwealth Pool from March 10-12, followed by the British Championships at Sheffield from April 18-23.
This second Ponds Forge event at Sheffield is one of the selection events set down by British Swimming. Athletes are expected to be on top form which will see them selected for the World Championships in July, where up to 30 swimmers will make up the team, where times will be crucial for selection.
And, more significantly, it is the first opportunity to post a nomination time that would be considered, with the final selection ultimately in the hands of Commonwealth Games Scotland.
Stephen and coach of 11 years Ann Dickson will be closely assessing which disciplines he will compete at here.
A spokesperson for Stephen told the PA: “There is absolutely no shortage of events for Stephen this year and crucially qualifying for Gold Coast, where he wants to be, is among the events he’s diaried in for.”