Swimming hopeful Michael Jamieson admits he has had to base himself in England to ensure the hype surrounding the build-up to next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow does not harm his medal prospects.
The 25-year-old will be one of Scotland’s main hopes when the nation hosts the Games in a year’s time after his silver success at London 2012.
But the Glaswegian will have to perform better than he did at this year’s World Championships in Barcelona, where he finished a lowly fifth in the 200m breaststroke final, despite being favourite to take gold.
Jamieson now based at the University of Bath is in a confident mood now, though, but admits staying in his home city was not an option with Commonwealth fever taking over Glasgow.
“Staying in Bath has worked out really well,” Jamieson said at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, where next year’s pool events will be hosted, as tickets for the Games went on sale.
“If I was training in Tollcross every day, I might get a bit excited to be honest.
“It’s great to get a bit of both worlds really. I have a great coaching and support network in Bath at the minute but I also have the freedom to come up to Glasgow for days like today to really get a taste of what next summer is going to be like.
“I’ve made a decision over the last couple of years to spend as much time based in Bath and doing as much training as a I possible can. That’s something with which I’m constantly trying to find a balance.
“For me primarily the focus is on training and performance but at the same time, I want to be here sampling the build-up.”
It was at Tollcross that Jamieson took his first few strokes as a 12-year-old junior as he started his journey towards Olympic stardom.
The ticket launch announcement was the first time the British record holder had seen the pool since a £14million redevelopment ahead of next summer’s Games and he admitted he was impressed.
He said: “It’s special to be back at Tollcross. I’ve not been back here since the refurbishment has been completed and it’s fantastic. It’s a world-class facility now and worthy of hosting an event as big as the Commonwealth Games.
“I’m in a privileged position, to have competed at a home Olympics last year and a home Commonwealth Games next year. It doesn’t get much better than that.
“I’m really looking to deliver the results we’re looking for next summer.”
Jamieson shot to national fame with his second-place finish in the Olympic 200m breaststroke final last year but two weeks ago finished outside of the medals in Barcelona as a bicep injury wrecked his chances of becoming world champion.
But after helping to promote the start of the ticket sale, he is determined to repay his Scottish supporters with his first major gold medal.
Jamieson said: “Having a full house cheering you on makes a huge difference. To have a packed venue full of support, with everyone urging you home in the race, that can be the difference between turning finalists into medallists and bronze and silvers into gold.
“Unfortunately for me this year injuries have been part and parcel of sport. It was so frustrating to be in Barcelona last month and not get the result I knew I was capable of.
“Now that disappointment has subsided and I’m laughing it off, thinking of better ways to set up the Commonwealth season after a the disappointment. I’m hungrier and more motivated than ever and I know everyone at home is expecting results from me.
“I will be doing the best job I can to make sure I deliver.
“I’m really looking forward to the Games next summer and it’s going to be such a great spectacle. The city is already looking great and you can see the transformation. From an athletes point of view it doesn’t get any bigger than this.
“We want to be winning medals and breaking records as much as everyone wants to see it. That can really make the difference.”