Hannah Miley secured her place at a third Olympic Games at Tollcross last night and immediately showed why she is such a popular figure as she turned to console the runner-up in their British Championship 400 metre individual medley final.

Still only 26 the Garioch swimmer is now very much a senior figure within a British team which in some events is harder to get onto than it will be to reach an Olympic final and she knows that the domestic competition generated by the likes of Aimee Wilmott has been vital in bringing that about.

“Aimee looked gutted,” said Miley.

“I really feel for her because 400 medley is a really unforgiving. I know she works rally hard and she’s a great competitor and had she not pushed me on I don’t know if I’d have done that time.

“I hope the rest of her swims go well and she gets under that time to be there on the team because she deserves it. She did an amazing job at the World Championships and she has every opportunity to do it.”

From a personal perspective, however, there was satisfaction in knowing that she has begun a typically testing week in which she is scheduled to participate in a series of events.

“It’s nice to know I’ve got the consideration time,” said Miley.

“That’s what the target was. I try to go into this events making sure I stay relaxed and see what the outcome is. So to go under the time, it’s goal achieved and I can now enjoy the rest of the competition and see how the races go.

“That was the race I wanted. It’s day one at the Olympics and day one here. I want to be up and swimming fast on the first day so that’s a goal achieved.

“However I still have a long way to go to make sure I improve it and if I want to get in among the medals there’s still more improvements to be made so I need to get back to the drawing board and focus.”

Another who has considerable hard work ahead of him is Perth’s Stephen Milne for whom the 400 metre freestyle was a relative sprint compared with the 1500 metres in which he will start as a strong favourite later in the week.

“I couldn’t ask for any more,” said the 22-year-old after finishing second to Millfield’s James Guy.

“I’ve still got a few more events coming up this week but I was happy with what I pulled off tonight.

“It’s good to get a good start. It gives you a boost and puts you in a positive frame of mind.”

Miley was the only Scottish winner on a night of four finals, the pick of which was always going to be the men’s 100 metre breaststroke which featured four Scots, but also Adam Peaty, the outstanding 21-year-old from Uttoxeter who picked up three gold medals at last year’s World Championships.

He duly claimed another title, but Ross Murdoch, the 22-year-old from Balloch who similarly burst onto the international scene at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, was close enough to him to have all but ensured his place in the team, even before he contests the 200 metres in which he won the gold medal in this pool two years ago.

“That should be good enough to get me a ticket to Rio,” he said.

“It’s all about focusing on the 200 now. This is a chance to make a dream come true. It has been a long-time dream of mine to be an Olympian, even since I was a little kid. I never really thought it would come true. It is a big week for me but it is just like any other week.”

While respectful of Peaty he made it clear that his focus is on his own performance.

“He is the world record holder. Of course, he’s going to be doing something fantastic mid-season, but I just have to keep looking forward and keep racing,” said Murdoch.

“I’m feeling really good. I feel like the back end of my race was very strong so I’m looking forward to it.”

The unforgiving nature of this sport was emphasised as Michael Jamieson, very much the local favourite and a British hero when he claimed a silver medal in the 200 metres at the last Olympics, finished in seventh place, three spots behind Murdoch’s Stirling University team-mate and just ahead of fellow Glaswegian Calum Tait.

“It’s much better than I’ve been recently so I’ve got to take it as a positive I guess,” said the 27-year-old who struggled badly at last month’s Edinburgh International event.

“I did a few race rehearsals last week which weren’t the best I’ve ever been but were much better than I’ve been over the last 12 months so it suggests there’s something decent there. I want to get a bit of belief and a bit of confidence back, but if I’ve learned anything over the past 18 months I need to just stay relaxed now and make sure I enjoy this week more than anything.”