Cumberlidge is keen to make a big splash
HEXHAM swimmer David Cumberlidge believes this weekend’s BUCS Nationals can act as the perfect platform for his Commonwealth Games aspirations.
The Edinburgh Heriot Watt University student will be competing in the 50m and 100m freestyle events, having claimed two BUCS short course golds last year.
The 21-year-old said: “I am quite confident.
“It will be the first big event since Christmas for me so I am looking forward to racing again.
“I feel I can do well because I have been in hard training for the last two weeks.
“I am quite tired but I have been doing good times and I am confident of doing well.
“BUCS is always a good opportunity to swim fast, it has a good, relaxed atmosphere.
“It is not as tense as some of the major competitions and I like racing in a relaxed atmosphere.
He added: “I am really looking forward to the Commonwealths.
“It is all I have focused on, the goal of doing well in Australia.
“I am going to see how it goes - I am excited for the relay swim against the English team and the 50m freestyle as well.”
Having competed in the World University Games last year, the third-year chemical engineering student believes experience can help him when he competes on the Gold Coast in April.
Cumberlidge said: “Having done that, hopefully I can go into the Commonwealth Games knowing what to expect more at major international meets.”
The former Queen Elizabeth High School pupil praised his university for their support as he balances his academic and athletic commitments in what is proving to be a busy year.
Each event now is seen as a major step closer to Tokyo 2020 for Cumberlidge.
He said: “Heriot Watt haves beenhelpful, especially with things like funding for sports in BUCS.
“My course tutor has also been very understanding regarding my needs for training.
“At the end of summer is the European Championships hopefully once the Commonwealth Games are done I can start focusing on that.
“Then once I finish my degree it will be Olympic year so it will be good to have that year off to focus completely on qualifying for the Olympics.”