Swimming: Murdoch keeps his eyes on the prize

Even when feeling below par, Murdoch still manages to pull it out of the bag: earlier this month he set a blistering Scottish 100m breaststroke record of 59.13sec at the 2015 British Championships in London, claiming silver behind Adam Peaty. That was enough to secure a berth in the British team for the World Championships in Kazan, Russia, this August. The team, which was announced on Friday, also includes Scots Hannah Miley, Robbie Renwick, Dan Wallace, Duncan Scott and Stephen Milne.

Yet, there were contrasting fortunes for Murdoch in the 200m breaststroke event which saw Peaty win with Andrew Willis second and the Scot in third. Only the top two finishers qualify for the World Championships. Murdoch admitted to being disappointed at missing out on a 200m spot, the discipline in which he won gold at Glasgow 2014.

"After the summer I had I truly believed there were big things coming for me this year, but I had a disrupted preparation," he says. "I didn't have the background of work leading into the trials that I had last year. I need to get myself back in form and I have another three months to push on with that. For me to go 2:08.90 in the shape I'm in, I was massively pleased."

Following a winter which saw his training derailed by a lingering chest infection that led to him pulling out of the 2014 World Short Course Championships in December, Murdoch is content with how things have worked out.

"I was out for a month and then it took another month-and-a-half to get back following my illness," he says. "I only had around eight weeks of solid training leading into the trials. I'm pleased with how everything has gone and think I'm going to be in a really good place in the summer."

Murdoch is ranked second in the world behind Peaty in the men's 100m breaststroke. "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure I'm on the podium this summer because I truly believe that is a realistic target," he says.

Last week saw the University of Stirling student lend his support to the launch of a three-year partnership between ScottishPower and Cancer Research UK to help raise funds to battle the disease. He said the death of his former training partner, Christopher Smith, who had an aggressive form of bone cancer and passed away aged just 17 in 2012, had had a lasting impact on him.

"We swam together between the ages of eight and 11," says Murdoch. "I hadn't seen him for a couple of years but when I heard the news it hit me hard. I remember going into training and that day was a write-off. It was knowing I wouldn't see my pal again.

"I have a close friend whose mum is suffering from breast cancer at the moment so it is something very much at the forefront of my mind."

While success may help sate the appetite for some, Murdoch's hunger shows few signs of waning. He already has the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio firmly in his sights.

"We have the world champs this summer but for me it's all about Rio," he says. "I was concerned about making this team [for Russia] but it's not the be all and end all. Next year is the big dance and I really hope to be a part of that team. Something I have wanted all of my life is to have that status of being an Olympian."

One name notably absent from the team list for the World Champ- ionships is Olympic silver medallist Jamieson. He is reported to have attributed the slump in form, which saw him finish sixth in the 200m breaststroke at the British Champ- ionships, to "self-doubt" and an over- reaction to the disappointment of last summer's silver in Glasgow.

When a swimmer gets into that negative head space, Murdoch concedes it is tough to turn things around.

"It's a very difficult place to get out from," he says. "When you have convinced yourself you've not done enough that is a dark place for any sportsman to be. I think he [Jamieson] said in an interview recently that he didn't have the background of work because he had a bit of a break. In a few months' time, when he has a bit more work under his belt, he will be as confident as ever."

Murdoch, though, is determined not to dwell on the comparisons between himself and Jamieson. "It's something I'm keen to move past," he says. "I don't really like living in the past. As much as the Commonwealth Games were massive for me, it's just a stepping stone and there are much bigger things to come from me."

He is on steadier ground talking about his relationship with City of Derby swimmer Peaty. While fierce rivals in the pool, away from racing the pair have forged a close friendship ever since they roomed together at the 2012 European Junior Championships. Murdoch describes Peaty's 100m breaststroke world record of 57.92sec set at the British Championships as "pretty special".

"Adam is a hard worker and his tenacity shone through that night," he says. "I think he has been capable of breaking that world record since Glasgow but I don't think his race tactics were quite right then. I always thought he should have gone out a bit quicker which is what he did in London and it paid off for him."

Murdoch clearly finds it motivational to have a sparring partner like double Commonwealth and four-time European champion Peaty. "We bring out the best in each other," he says. "I know how hard he works in training every day but I do the exact same and Adam knows that. When I'm at the pool, struggling to get in at that time in the morning, I think: 'Adam is probably already in and almost finished his session by now, I better get in and start mine'."

When asked about the longevity of his career, there is no doubting Murdoch's ambition. "I would keep doing it for another 20 years if I could but ultimately it will be my body that gives out before my head," he says. "I'm going to keep going until I need surgery."

He cheerily admits, however, to not being quite as vigilant as he should be with regards to the young talent that could soon be snapping at his heels. "I tend to keep looking up and one day I will probably get a surprise, so I maybe should start looking down the ranks a wee bit," he says. "I just keep focusing on my own performances and don't think about anyone else. I want to get into training and work hard every day to make sure I'm still surprising people as well."