Lucy Hope wants to make her case for a late call-up for the Tokyo Olympics by contributing to a gold rush on the opening day of the European Swimming Championships in Budapest.
The 24-year-old Borderer will get her first shot at persuading the British selectors to add her to their squad for Japan when she goes in today’s (Monday) women’s 4x100 freestyle relay.
With the UK yet to qualify for the event in Tokyo, a speedy showing will provide a major boost to the Edinburgh University prospect’s case.
But Hope, who lowered the Scottish 100m free record at the recent Olympic trials, insists the pressure won’t weigh her down.
She said: “I put myself in good stead with my performances from trials. it was nice to see the progression there. The four girls’ times combined for the relay were so close to getting under that consideration time. I'm just hoping that if one of us can go slightly quicker, it justifies them taking us. As long as we get that top four place and get a space at the Olympics, that will secure a place for GB. Then comes down to if they want to put us forward.
“I'm not really putting myself under too much pressure. I have the individual 200 freestyle as well so if I have a good swim there, I could maybe try and get under the actual qualifying time and there is still an open space in that. But I think I just need to take it one day at a time. 4x100 is on day one. So it'll be the first race for all of us. So it'll be quite nice to go into that fresh and see what we've got.”
Fellow Scots Evie Davis and Emma Russell can strengthen their own relay chances when they join Anna Hopkin in the 50m freestyle. Keanna Macinnes – another in the frame for a possible late tilt at the Tokyo team – goes in the 100m butterfly while Glaswegian teen Katie Shanahan and Stirling-based Aimee Willmott open up in the 400m individual medley.
Ross Murdoch starts his championships in the 100m breaststroke where Adam Peaty will be hot favourite to earn his 13th European gold and defend the title he retained in Glasgow in 2018. And Murdoch, who competes for the Budapest Iron in the International Swimming League, claims the Hungarian pool is a home from home.
“Walking out in front of that Budapest crowd at the 2017 world championships, I honestly felt like I was Angus Young from AC/DC. I felt like I was a rock star. I try and channel a lot of my energy and a lot of my passion comes from music. I'm a big music fan, especially of 60s and 70s rock. And that's what it makes me feel like when I swim in Budapest.”
His primary shot at gold will be later this week when he attempts to regain his 200m title but even at 27, Murdoch is confident he remains a contender.
“I don't see why not,” the former Commonwealth champion said. “It's a cracking pool, one of the best in the world. And I want to get amongst it and start racing the best in the world again.”
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