The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Milne’s dejection in freestyle final
Perth swimmer returns to pool today on Gold Coast
Perth swimmer Stephen Milne finished a disappointing eighth in yesterday’s 400m freestyle final at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia.
The World Championship relay gold medallist had high hopes of adding to his silver medal from Glasgow 2014, but the signs were ominous for the 23-year-old when he scraped through to the final after going only seventh-quickest in the heats in three minutes and 51.65 seconds.
Milne was never in medal contention in the final and limped home in 3:55.01 as Australian Olympic champion Mack Horton thrilled the home crowd by taking gold in 3:43.76.
The Scot is back in the pool today in the 200m freestyle, the event he won at last month’s British National Championships in Edinburgh.
Milne’s fellow Scot Hannah Miley won Scotland’s third medal of the Games, securing a silver medal in the 400m individual medley.
She was denied a third straight title in the event by England’s Aimee Willmott, who has Scottish ties.
Willmott finished in 4:34.90 as Miley, who won gold at Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014, finished 0.26secs behind.
The 25-year-old from Middlesbrough credited her win to a move from London for Stirling.
Willmott said: “I finish second pretty much every time, and I have raced against Hannah so many times and last time (at Glasgow 2014) I was second.
“I knew this time I could have it in me if I just swam the race a little bit better.
“It was just believing in myself. Since moving to Stirling, (coach) Steve Tigg has been reinforcing that and it’s been so nice to move there and get the enjoyment back.”
Miley said: “I gave it my all and I was so close to winning. It’s my third games on the podium in the same event at the age of 28, there are not many my age still swimming the 400 IM.”
Speaking from the Optus Aquatic Centre after the win, Mike Whittingham, sportscotland director of high performance, said: “Congratulations to Hannah Miley on winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
“Hannah was one of the stars of Glasgow 2014 and has again produced a fantastic performance on the big stage.
“So far in Gold Coast there have been some really encouraging performances which will give all of Team Scotland a massive boost and hopefully provide the start of a successful Games.
“Scottish athletes continue to deliver consistently on the world stage across a range of sports, demonstrating that Scotland’s approach to developing a sporting pathway to performance sport is delivering.
“Swimming in Scotland is in a great place at the moment with playing memberships of Scottish Swimming increasing by around 25% over the last decade.”
Meanwhile Scot Ross Murdoch was shocked by English underdog James Wilby.
Wilby, who born in Glasgow, came from behind to win the men’s 200m breaststroke ahead of Murdoch, the champion four years ago.
Murdoch was the underdog behind Glasgow 2014 poster boy Michael Jamieson, upsetting the odds, but was on the receiving end this time.
Wilby surged down the final 25m to overhaul the Scot and claim gold in two minutes 08.05 seconds. Murdoch was 0.27secs behind to finish with silver.
Murdoch rued his final length, describing it as “dire”, but insisted he could not be too disappointed.
“I was dying there in that last 25. I’ve not lost a title at all. There was nothing to defend, I had nothing to lose and I went in there and got a silver medal. I had everything to gain,” he said.
James Guy finished with bronze as Australia’s Mack Horton won the men’s 400m freestyle.
There was another bronze for England, as Siobhan O’connor, Freya Anderson, Anna Hopkin and Ellie Faulkner claimed women’s 4x100m freestyle relay bronze behind Australia, who set a world record of 3:30.05.
Glasgow 2014 winner and world champion Ben Proud was disqualified from the 50m butterfly heats for a false start. An appeal was unsuccessful.