The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Something more taxing for Gold Coast swimmer Inglis
● Aberdonian swaps big sporting stage for accountancy career
Diving headlong into an accountancy career after being an international sportsman was far from daunting for Euan Inglis.
After all, his young sporting life had been built on throwing himself in at the deep end.
The Aberdeen swimmer competed for Scotland in last year’s Commonwealth Games, coming seventh in the final of the men’s 50m breaststroke.
But rather than it being a springboard to further achievements, it marked the end of his competitive swimming career at the age of 24.
Inglis has no regrets. He has followed his intended career path away from sport, becoming a tax accountant in his native city after returning from Edinburgh in August, and he is satisfied his decision to walk away is the right one.
He said: “It’s a huge transition stepping out of sport to do anything afterwards and some athletes find it difficult to take the next step.
“I was quite fortunate in pursuing an academic degree and that’s helped me in the job I’m in just now. Some just don’t have time to do a degree but my transition has been really easy as I always knew I wanted to go into accounting.
“I didn’t make Glasgow 2014 – that would have been my first chance to stop. I decided to try make an international games and worked hard for the next two or three years. It made it easier.
“The big thing with swimming, especially the 50m, is that international opportunities don’t come round often enough. It’s in the world championships but British Swimming don’t select on it. It’s a long time to invest in the next opportunity, which would be 2022. I was delighted with the Games themselves and to be able to go out on a high.”
While swimming has given Inglis a lot – he was Scottish national champion in the 50m and 100m breaststroke last year – he was a multi-sport athlete in his teenage years. He played rugby for Aberdeen Grammar and was a national trampolining champion, while also playing football and tennis.
The former Robert Gordon’s College pupil was a member at City of Aberdeen Swimming Club and, ultimately, the pool won over the pitch.
There will, of course, be elements of competing at the highest level that Inglis will miss.
He said: “Earlier this month there was a Scottish short-course event on in Edinburgh and I missed not competing.
“Swimming has given me a lot. It does really define you during and after doing sport. I’m known around the office as the guy who swam.
“But when I’m turning up to interviews or giving presentations, I don’t get nervous because I’m used to talking to people.”
Inglis balanced his training with his accountancy degree at Heriot-Watt University. He works as a corporate tax trainee and intends to study for his ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians) and CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser) qualifications in 2019.
He said: “We’re working extra hours just now to get returns in but I’ve adapted to working life.
“It’s nice not to have to get up at 5am for a workout or go home at 7pm to go to training.
“When you’re swimming and doing academics at the same time, you’re busy through the day then have to fit in workouts, eating right, down-time and going to bed. Work life is intense but around that you’ve got so much flexibility.
“I know Aberdeen so well, having been brought up here.
“I found a home away from home in Edinburgh – I loved the city and lifestyle. But as soon as I was back, everything slotted into place.”