ABREAK from the pool seems to have been the change of scene Michael Jamieson needed.
After being pipped to 200 metres breast-stroke gold by fellow Scot Ross Murdoch at the Commonwealth Games, and failing to make the 100m final, the 26-year-old took time out with an extended trip to the USA.
Yesterday, in just his second race since his home-city disappointment at Glasgow 2014, Jamieson finished third in the 100m breaststroke at the Scottish Gas National Shortcourse Championships at the Royal Commonwealth Pool behind his Bath training partner Andrew Willis who claimed the honours in a time of 58.68 with Craig Benson second.
Losing out to Murdoch at Tollcross in the summer clearly hit Jamieson hard but a refreshing spell away from swimming as well as a change in coach has injected the Olympic silver medallist with renewed vigour. Getting the trunks back on and diving back into it wasn't easy, mind you.
"I had two months out of the water, so it's only now I'm getting back into the swing of things," said Jamieson, who had been the highly-publicised poster boy for Team Scotland in the fevered build-up to the Games.
"We went to Vegas, then New York and then Miami. It was definitely the longest break I've had. In any job it's tough to get back into things after you've been away for a while but having a new coach with a new programme and new ideas was the thing I needed to get that spark back.
"It was important to get back to enjoying it again and enjoying learning. I'm working with Dirk Lange on a few new breaststroke skills and hopefully they will help me improve my 100m time.
"It's important the Commonwealth Games is put to bed. I'd been holding on to it for far too long. I always said I enjoyed the big pressure meets and the big arenas. I'm always open about what my targets are but I put too much pressure on myself there and was over-analysing things too much."
Benson is also benefitting from a fresh approach. In finishing second ahead of Jamieson he clocked 58.72, a second-and-a-half faster than he was swimming this time last year.
Having opted to switch from Warrender Baths in Edinburgh to the programme at Stirling University, Benson believes the tough decision he made will reap rewards in the future.
"After the Games, I sat down and had a big review," said the West Lothian-based Olympian. "I needed a change, some new ideas and fresh motivation. It was difficult but I'm really enjoying the work I am doing now and feel I am on my way back. This was my best time in the 100m in two years."
Dan Wallace, a gold medallist in Glasgow, certainly got going in his own backyard of Edinburgh, recording a Scottish record of 1:56.32 in finishing second in the 200m individual medley behind Loughborough University's Roberto Pavoni.
"I always find it hard coming straight into competition after travelling back from the States but I'm getting back into it and a Scottish record is always nice," said the University of Florida student, who will not be reappearing today after picking up a slight groin injury.
In the rigorous test of the 1500m freestyle, Perth's Stephen Milne underlined his potential with an impressive seven-second victory in 14:44.10. With the trials for next year's World Championships looming, Milne knows he needs to keep improving.
"I'd love to be at the worlds but I'll need to produce the race of my life to get there," said the 20-year-old.
On another eventful day of keen competition, there were Scottish records in the women's 50m breaststroke for Corrie Scott (30.71) and in the men's 100m freestyle for Robbie Renwick (47.96).
Hannah Miley, the multi-tasking Scot who won the 200m individual medley on Friday night, reached another two finals yesterday and took second in the 400m freestyle and third in the 100m individual medley.
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