After trying to being the jack of all trades, Euan Inglis had to focus on being the master of one.
The Commonwealth Games swimmer turned his hand to five disciplines during his teenage years before his schedule became too stretched. As much as he loved the competitive nature of sport, he was spreading himself too thinly.
As well as swimming, Inglis was also a keen footballer and tennis player. However, his prowess did not end there. He was also a national trampolining champion by 15 and played rugby for
Aberdeen Grammar.
Swimming won the day as it was the sport he held the most affinity for but he appreciates the lasting impact his previous sporting endeavours have had on his chosen career.
Inglis said: “When I was younger it was useful from a social standpoint. I found it important to make friendship groups. When I got older the social side and the sporting aspect became important and I got more into rugby and swimming.
“I think the biggest part is networking with other people and getting time management nailed down. You get into a good routine and you’re set for life. I take a lot of the flexibility that comes from trampolining and the power that comes with rugby into the pool; that built a physical base for me and helped me when I got older. When I do gym work now I’m one of the strongest in there.
“My schedule was just too busy to tie everything together and I had to focus on the one I loved the most.”
That final decision to throw himself head-first into the pool has paid dividends. He secured his place on the Gold Coast last year and was a double gold medallist at the Scottish championships in the 50m and 100m breaststroke. The intensity of his pre-tournament training regime has not had time to hit home, given the tapering-off period only starts for swimmers as soon as they get on the plane.
In the Scotland squad alongside him is another representative of the north-east, Mark Campbell. The two used to train alongside one another as members of the City of Aberdeen Swimming Club and Inglis said: “When I was doing 1,500m front crawl training, I always looked over at Mark and saw him doing sprint breaststroke work and was jealous of what he was allowed to do. It’s great to be alongside him in the same event, with the same aim and the same goal.”
Inglis will have his own support crew backing him in the 50m breaststroke Down Under, with his parents Sandra and David and brothers Callum and Stuart booking flights out, as well as family in New Zealand making the trip over the Tasman Sea.
He is currently on a year out from his studies after graduating from Heriot-Watt University last summer.
He plans to study advanced chartered accountancy once the 2018-19 academic year begins but, for now, his Australian ambitions come first.
Pressure on the former Robert Gordon’s College pupil is scarce. He appreciates it is going to be difficult to keep up with Adam Peaty, who is the Commonwealth and Olympic champion at the 100m breaststroke and a silver medallist in the 50m in both those events.
However, since the last games, Peaty has set the 50m world record four times, creeping under 26sec for the first time last year. Even Cameron van der Burgh, the South African who has taken gold in the 50m in the last two Commonwealths, will struggle to keep up.
Inglis said: “I think I can confidently say the gold is wrapped up already. Breaststroke seems to be the Peaty Show. But I’ve raced him a few times and wouldn’t look at it as a nerve-racking experience. But I have my own goals. The final is going to be tough to make but if I can get a lane, then anyone can make the medals.”
