EVERY organisation could do with someone like Robbie Renwick. If the overriding feeling among the Scottish swimming fraternity was one of mild disappointment after only one of their number – Hannah Miley – booked a guaranteed Olympic place at this week’s British championships in Glasgow, then 60 seconds with the veteran Renwick would soon put smiles back on faces. Such was his breezy enthusiasm you suspect they could wheel him out at Celtic Park today and he could even persuade one or two that it wasn’t quite the end of the world after all.

Renwick was one of four Scots to compete in the 200m freestyle, the final event of six days of racing at Tollcross. None could topple the peerless James Guy – who confirmed his status as Britain’s leading freestyler – but three would follow him into the wall. Stephen Milne, second in the 400m and 1500m earlier in the week, collected another silver medal that seemed to surprise him as much as anyone inside the arena, Renwick took bronze, while his University of Stirling team-mate Duncan Scott was a place further back. Any notion that this represented another case of “close but no cigar” was dismissed by Renwick who eschewed the usual protocol about waiting for the selectors’ picks on Thursday by excitedly backing himself and the three other top-four finishers to push for the podium come the relay events in Rio. It was quite the speech.

“Coming into this race, if I’d got the individual time [to qualify] it would have been great but I’ve always wanted to do the 4x200m because that’s where the potential for medals lies,” beamed the 27 year-old. “I’m at a stage of my career that it’s all about medals. I’ve made an individual Olympic final twice and it’s great. You get a pat on the back. But no-one cares if you come sixth. It’s about a medal and the 4x200 is a great opportunity and I’m confidence we’ll step it up. It’s going to be hugely exciting.

“At the Kazan world championships last year, there was a phenomenal feeling with British athletes winning titles. We were winning golds. When I first came into the sport, it was huge deal even for someone to make an individual final. We really have turned it on and set the bar really high. And we’re really going for golds now.”

Milne, as withdrawn as Renwick is gregarious, was not quite as vocal but expressed a quiet satisfaction with taking half a second off his personal best. “I wasn’t expecting that tonight and I’m really happy with the result. That’s the fastest I’ve been by a long shot. It would mean the world to get the chance to represent my country as a team with these guys. I’ll wait to see if I’m selected and take it from there.”

Scott, the hugely talented if impatient 18 year-old, had hoped for better than fourth after finishing fastest in the heats and expressed his annoyance that his place at another major event would need to come via invite rather than achieved under his own steam.

“I’m just a bit gutted as I wanted to come here and show why I should be on a team as I’ve never done that before,” he said, “It’s always been, “just come on the team” and that will probably happen again this time. Or I might even miss out. I’m nowhere near where Jimmy [Guy] is at the moment but that’s obviously where I want to be. I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and I’ll get there.”

There were encouraging words, though, from Renwick, his team-mate, close friend and role model. “His potential is huge,” he said. “I train with the boy every day. He’s a real star of the future. His technique is fantastic and give him another four months and who knows where he’ll be.”

The only Scot not to put himself into Olympic contention was Dan Wallace, who concluded a miserable personal week by finishing in seventh place. “I hyped up the situation too much,” said the Florida-based swimmer. “I’m normally really good at trials, like the world and Commonwealths, but the Olympics is special. It was always a dream of mine to make the team so that added a little pressure. I’m usually fine in those circumstances but everybody has a bad week.”

Earlier in the night there had been a bronze medal for Warrender’s Craig McNally in the 200m backstroke, but even bettering his qualifying time by two seconds wasn’t enough to assuage the 23 year-old. “That wasn’t what I wanted,” said the Edinburgh swimmer.

The promise hinted at in her morning personal best did not materialise for Corrie Scott in the 100m breaststroke. The Commonwealth bronze medallist had posted the second fastest qualifying time in heats but had to settle for fifth in the final.