Loch Lomond win for swimmer Milne
Perth Olympian takes gold in men’s one-mile race
Open water swimming is not often on his schedule but that didn’t stop Stephen Milne from splashing to success at Loch Lomond.
The Perth Olympian took on the Great Scottish Swim at the weekend and has been celebrating a gold medal winning performance in the elite men’s one-mile race.
Milne clocked a time of 18:16.44 to cross the finish line in first place ahead of second-placed Bailey Hairsaine and Jamie Scholes in third.
“I was on holiday in Arran and we were going to go camping 30 minutes down the road at Loch Lomond,” Milne explained.
“So I thought about doing the Great Scottish Swim again. I was happy to come away with first place, I was just there to see what I could do, hoping for the best.
“I didn’t really know who else had entered until I got there.
“There were a lot of juniors and also Dan Wallace - we were the seniors.
“It was nice to catch up with him and also good to see how the juniors are faring in Britain at the moment.
“It was nice to get a change of scenery and do something different. And it was great to see so many participants across the events.
“It’s important to raise the profile of it and it’s just nice to see people giving it a shot, whether for charity or their own personal challenge.
“The one-mile swim is quite similar to the 1500m. But you don’t get turns and might get people on your heels. I’ve had a little bit of experience with it.
“The pool is where I’m at, though, and that’s where I want to progress Stephen Milne participated in the Great Scottish Swim
internationally. But it was nice to give it a shot.
“It’s challenging in its own way compared to swimming indoors, but a challenge that I did enjoy.
“I guess you need to keep your options open but, at the moment, in the pool is what I’m focusing on. Later on in the future I might explore it more.”
Milne has this week returned to training after having time away from swimming to recharge the batteries following another packed season.
“The new season for me is just about to start,” he said. “This week I’m doing half the training of what I usually do.
“I’m going to sessions with Perth City Swim Club and then the following
week I’ll be doing full training, going to Dundee and Stirling.
“That is much more one to one with my coach Ann Dickson. And I’ll have my strength and conditioning and yoga on top of that.
“It was good to recharge the batteries and give the body a rest and give the mind other things to think about rather than swimming.
“But now that I’ve had my break I’m raring to get back into it and I’m looking forward to working hard and setting my goals for next year.
“There will be the Scottish shortcourse in December.
“The main focus is on training, to get my fitness back up and to work on skills.” Stephen was delighted to win the top prize