Britains best swimmers set for Tollcross ahead of Rio Olympics

Britain’s best swimmers are set to go head to head in Glasgow next week as they continue their preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Article Source: Glasgow Life
Last Updated: 6 April 2016 9:47

The British Swimming Championships takes place at Tollcross International Swimming Centre (TISC) between Tuesday 12 and Sunday 17 April and will feature the nation’s very best swimmers. It will be one of the final chances to see them in action in home water ahead of the Olympic Games this August.

Leading the medal charge at the British Championships will be Glasgow born Michael Jamieson – who has won silver medals at Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European level and former City of Glasgow swimmer Robbie Renwick – a gold medallist at both Commonwealth and World level.

Both swimmers are looking forward to returning to the venue that has played such an important part in their respective careers and are promising the crowd will be blown away by the level of competition at the Championships.

Jamieson said: “It will be great to be back at Tollcross. It is such a special venue and the fans are brilliant. They always get behind us and I am sure they will raise the roof again next week at the British Championships.

“The very best swimmers in the country will be in action so the standard will be incredibly high. It is going to be a brilliant event and I’m really looking forward to be a part of it all. It will be unforgettable for the swimmers and fans alike.”

Renwick added: “I have so many happy memories of competing at Tollcross and it will be great to see the fans again at the British Championships. They really love their swimming and it is a pleasure to perform for them.

“The noise is something else in the venue. Everyone was talking about the Tollcross Roar during the Commonwealth Games and I have no doubt it will be the same when we get back there next week.”

Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk/feature/british-swimming starting at just £6 for concessions (U16 and 60+) and £8 for adults. Family tickets (2 adults and 2 concessions) start at just £22.

Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life, Councillor Archie Graham OBE, said: “Over the years Tollcross International Swimming Centre has played host to a number of top events and the British Swimming Championships fits into that category.

“Both Michael and Robbie know exactly what it is like to compete at Tollcross. The atmosphere is incredible and that will be the case again next week as the country’s top swimmers continue their preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. It is shaping up to be an unmissable event.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “As the final opportunity to see the UK’s finest swimmers in action before Rio, the British Swimming Championships is set to be an absolutely thrilling occasion full of excitement and drama.

“We are delighted to welcome such a prestigious event to Scotland and I’m sure that Michael and Robbie are going to relish the opportunity of competing at Tollcross in front of a sell-out home crowd once more.”

The British Swimming Championships is being delivered in partnership between British Swimming and Glasgow Life on behalf of Glasgow City Council with funding support from UK Sport and EventScotland.

TISC has hosted some of the world’s most prestigious events including the 2013 Speedo Duel in the Pool, the swimming competitions at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships. It will also host the 2018 LEN European Swimming Championships as part of the inaugural European Championships, which is being co-hosted by Glasgow.

Originally opened in 1997, TISC is Scotland’s premier swimming venue and one of the largest facilities of its kind in Europe. It reopened to the public in May 2013 following a comprehensive £14million refurbishment carried out in advance of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The facility now includes a 10-lane 50-metre competition pool, a six-lane 50-metre warm-up pool, 2,000 permanent seats and one of the largest and best equipped Glasgow Club health and fitness facilities in the city, with close to 100 of the very latest cardiovascular and strength and conditioning stations.

TISC is one of the busiest Glasgow Club facilities in the city. Attendances at the venue stand at 1.5million since it reopened in May 2013.