Craig McNally will take the plunge in Edinburgh today (Friday) and begin the chase for a fourth Commonwealth Games appearance at the age of 29.
The Scottish short course championships will throw him back in at the deep end after taking it easy for a few months. Retirement, the backstroke specialist admits, will have to wait.
“When Olympic year was 2020, I was going to finish, no matter what,” he said. “But then because of Covid, and it getting delayed another year, it kind of meant that Commonwealth Games was a short time away. And it seems like too much of an opportunity to miss.”
Others, like Hannah Miley and Aimee Willmott, have thought differently in recent weeks and called it quits. But although an Olympic appearance has always just eluded the Great Britain international, McNally has enough fire left in his belly to be back in at dawn six times a week at his Stirling University base.
Funds have been scraped together so he can remain full-time. A Sportscotland grant. A raid on the bank of Mum and Dad.
Even though the finish line is fast approaching, it is worth a little short-term pinch in his wallet despite an awareness that he will not be among those this weekend who are on the first leg of a journey that may end up in Paris in 2024.
But he said: “Even from a young age when I started swimming, it wasn't about being the best. Obviously, it was my target and there's a process and I love the target of trying to beat people in the race. I love that side of it. But I actually really just enjoy training and everything that comes with it.
“That monotonous following the black line at the bottom of the pool or staring at the ceiling. Being able to push myself to try and be better every day. That enjoyment hasn't gone away. And so the only reason, which is a very big, valid reason, to stop swimming would be for the money, and to find myself a career and to move on. But I'm still enjoying it and I know I only really have one shot at swimming.”
The Edinburgh bill includes Olympian relay finalist Lucy Hope, teen prospect Katie Shanahan ahead of her senior debut for the UK at next week’s world championships in Abu Dhabi, and McNally’s fellow old stager: the two-time Olympian Craig Benson.
Time out of the pool has mean extra time in the gym, McNally reveals. He has until April, to Team Scotland’s trials in Birmingham, to re-attain the peak form that took him to Delhi, Glasgow and Gold Coast and world championships in between.
His hometown, over three days, should offer an insight into where he stands.
“When I was in discussions with the coaches, and even family and friends, about what my plans were, this was the only competition that I knew that I'd be able to do for the first six months of the season. And it's an interesting one. I love competing at Scottish short course.
“Whether I'm going to be targeting my best times or whether I'm going to be a bit back on that, or maybe I'll be getting beaten, there's a bit of dipping my toes and just see where I'm at.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here