Renwick ready to renew challenge as he prepares to face Phelps again
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ABERDEEN swimmer Robbie Renwick proved he is a leading student – now he is ready to go back up against the master.
The 21-year-old showed his Olympic pedigree as he claimed victory in the 800 metres, 400m and 200m freestyle events at the British universities short course championships in Sheffield last weekend.
The Olympian faces a much tougher examination next month, however, as he prepares to go head-to-head with swimming legend Michael Phelps and the rest of the United States team as part of the much-anticipated Duel in the Pool meeting in Manchester on December 18 and 19.
Renwick will be named in the Allstars team to take on the Americans. Olympic great Phelps will be swimming in the UK for the first time.
The team will be officially announced this week, but Renwick is a certain inclusion, with Aberdeen’s David Carry hopeful and Inverurie’s Hannah Miley likely to be selected, along with Britain’s double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington.
OPPORTUNITY
Renwick was left in Phelps’s wake at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 where the American claimed gold and the world record, while the Scot finished eighth after impressing en route to the 200m freestyle final.
He is relishing the opportunity of another encounter. He said: “It is an exciting event and we will be up against some of the best swimmers in the world.
“Michael Phelps has never swum in the UK before, so it will be a huge deal. I am looking forward to it. This is a fun event but we want to win. It will be a great end to the year and ideal preparation ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year.”
Renwick was thrilled with his exploits in Sheffield. As well as three gold medals, the 21-year-old broke championship records in the 200m and 400m freestyle events.
He said: “I was delighted with the results. I feel really good and training is going very well. I am right were I want to be at this stage.”
