Renshaw hoping black lines lead to Commonwealth glory

World short course champion Molly Renshaw hopes hours of staring at a black line will help her to achieve Commonwealth Games glory.

The 21-year-old, who won gold in the 200m Breaststroke at the 2016 World Short Course Swimming Championships in Canada, is relishing the opportunity of appearing at her second Commonwealth Games when she makes the trip to Australia’s Gold Coast with Team England.

• Age: 06/05/1996
• Club: Loughborough University
• Coach: David Hemmings
• CWG: Won 200m Breast bronze and 4x100m Medley Relay silver on debut at Glasgow 2014

The Loughborough-based swimmer said: “It’s really starting to feel real now. I was selected back in October and, back then, it seemed ages ago but I’m starting to get really excited.

“Training has been going really well. It’s four hours a day staring at a black line at the bottom of a pool – it’s not much fun – but I am enjoying it.

“I need to enjoy the training to get into it but it’s been going really well and I’m ready to race.”

Special to my heart

Renshaw won two medals at Glasgow 2014 – a bronze in the 200m breaststroke and a silver as part of the 4x100m medley relay team – and said the Games has special memories for her.

She said: “I really enjoyed the last Commonwealth Games as it the first major competition that my family came to watch and my first international medal. That’s very special to my heart as they were with me to celebrate.

“Breaststroke has always been my strength. I used to do 200m and 400m individual medley when I was younger as well but I always placed higher in breaststroke and enjoyed training for that a lot more.

“”I’m not that competitive. Away from the pool,  I’m very chilled and quite happy for other people to win. But then, when I get in the pool, it’s not really about winning but wanting to do the best I can and wherever that gets me I’m happy with.”