Olympian Michael Jamieson announced a big move via Twitter today, as the Scottish swimmer revealed he would be moving his training home from the University of Bath to the University of Edinburgh.
“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.” New home! #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/OZvXqC6z5a
— Michael Jamieson (@mj88live) September 24, 2015
The 27 year-old burst onto the international swimming scene in a big way back in 2012 when he earned a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke at the London Olympic Games. Jamieson continued his hot streak with a silver medal at the 2013 Short Course World Championships and was favored to win the same event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
However, the wins tapered off a tad for Jamieson, as University of Sterling sensation Ross Murdoch and Derby star Adam Peaty have surged to the top of the breaststroking scene. Murdoch snagged the gold away from Jamieson at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where Jamieson settled for silver. Just this past spring, Jamieson failed to qualify for the 2015 FINA World Championships.
Of his downward trajectory, this past April at the British world trial, Jamieson said that the way he reacted to the Commonwealth disappointment “was completely over the top. I just blew it all out of proportion and ended up taking a huge break from the pool. I took too long to get over the disappointments of last year.”
Edinburgh, Scotland may indeed be the spot for Jamieson to get over his slump, as its relatively newly restructured program is looking to be a hub of some of the best swimmers in the region. The University added massive recruits last year under head coach Chris Jones, and is already home to Corrie Scott, the 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist in the 50m breaststroke.
Calum Tait, another Commonwealth finalist in the 200m breaststroke also trains at Edinburgh, while recently-retired Wolds, Commonwealth and European medallist, Caitlin McClatchey, finished out her career at the University.
