SHOULD Ross Murdoch and Michael Jamieson peruse the section of the Encyclopaedia Swimtannica devoted to ancient history, then pictures of their duel in the pool at Glasgow 2014 might have its own souvenir section.
It is now eight months since the former's celebrity status was elevated from zero to hero during two magical minutes in which he confounded expectation and shredded reputation by relegating his fellow Scot into second place in the 200 metres breaststroke final at the Commonwealth Games.
In the limited lifespan of an athlete, the present is an age removed. And with the trials for this summer's world championships a matter of weeks away, and Rio 2016 speedily approaching, their performances at the Edinburgh International meeting yesterday provided a reminder - if one were needed - that to tread water is to go nowhere fast.
Jamieson, at least, made it through to the 100m final in their speciality but came eighth and last, with Adam Peaty winning. Murdoch was victorious but only in the B final, having failed to join the A-List following a miscalculation in the heats.
"It was really bad judgment from me on what it would take to make the final," the 21-year-old said. "I thought I could take it easy but that was a gamble and it didn't pay off."
Such are the slender margins. It was his quickest time of 2015 but not up to speed. Better should be expected when the duo renew acquaintances on the third and final day of the capital meeting over the distance that provided Murdoch with his finest hour and Jamieson with a moment he might rather forget. With Adam Willis, the latter's training partner in Bath in the field, a Caledonian one-two is far from assured.
"I'll be looking at a lot more people than Michael," Murdoch said. "The standard is so high. I missed the A final over 100 so you can see the quality of swimmers here. I just need to make sure I don't mess up in the heats and get myself into the final with a central lane and then go for it."
Jamieson's form remains an uncertainty, even to himself. Like a golfer adjusting his swing in the hope of marginal gains, the Olympic silver medallist has sought out a guru to tinker with his technique. It feels right, he says, but also quite wrong. "One tiny little change in one area can change the whole dynamic of your stroke. It's quite intricate. I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall a little."
With Bath University's pool closed for refurbishment, his training group has had to cope with disruption. He trusts that hard labour now in the gym will pay forward when it matters most. "This meeting has been a milestone for me in the calendar because it's time to rest now for the world trials," he said. "I've never been great at racing tired but I'm fairly confident the weights I'm lifting are bigger than anyone else is doing. So it's leaving a mark, especially in the last 25 metres. But the strength gains don't benefit you until you have a rest. My main aim is to get through trials and then be ready for Russia."
Others have Moscow and the worlds on their minds. Craig McNally's breakthrough came in Barcelona two years ago when he reached a global final and then anticipated an upward trajectory. In Glasgow, hampered by a virus, his ambitions sank instead.
There are now signs of a revival, however, and his victory in the 200m backstroke brought affirmation. "I've beaten my in-season times from last year so I'm feeling more positive," the Warrender swimmer said. "It's only a year until the trials for Olympics and last time I missed out by 0.1 seconds. That hurt. So I don't want to let that happen again."
Hannah Miley may well be the only Scottish woman in Britain's team for Russia but she hopes to fly the flag for some time yet. The twice-Commonwealth champion will go in her favoured 400m individual medley today having taken third place last night in both the 200m butterfly (won by Jemma Lowe) and the 200m IM (won by Siobhan O'Connor). There is no longer any question, the 25-year-old affirmed, of taking her leave before the Olympics. And Rio, not Moscow, will bring the ultimate moment of truth.
"I have won a medal at worlds before in 2011, a year out from the Olympics," she said. "But of the three of us on that podium, only one of us got a medal in London. So in my eyes, if I get a medal great. But if not it won't be the end of the world because it won't mean anything for the Olympics. It's about taking the opportunity then."
Meanwhile, European champion Fran Halsall edged out three-time Olympic gold medallist Natalie Coughlin in the 50m freestyle, while Corrie Scott was runner-up to Sophie Taylor in the 100m breaststroke.
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