Graduate Murdoch hints at pool return

Commonwealth champion Ross Murdoch is swapping the pool for the police following his graduation from the University of Stirling, but says he “still dreams about swimming” every night.

The university gave his career in the pool a springboardafterhejoinedin2012as part of the high-performance swim programme.

Murdoch graduated yesterday with a masters degree in sport management and is now set to begin a career in policing, although may also return to the pool.

He announced he was retiring from swimming last December, but returned for the Commonwealth Games inbirminghamthisyear,winning three bronze medals.

He has refused to rule out anotherreturntothepooland said he could consider competing at the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2026.

He said: “A Commonwealth Games is a massive thing. It doesfeellikeafamily,thatfeelingofswimmingforscotland, there’s nothing else like it."

The university supported Murdoch as he competed at twoolympicsandthreecommonwealth Games.

“I’ve not officially retired, but haven’t been training in the pool for several weeks,” he said. “For me, if I still feel this type of fire in eight or nine months, I could consider another Commonwealths, but training for a Games is a difficult job and I need to wait and see with everything else and whether it balances with my life after sport.

“Forme,swimmingforscotland was the biggest thing. It was always my main dream and I’ve competed at Olympics, Commonwealths and World and European Championships. I’m so proud.”