Published: Thursday, 25th September, 2008 10:00
Paralympian swimmer Lindsay vows to carry on after Beijing setback
By Matt Meade
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OVERLOAD training, a stringent diet and an unswerving determination may not have been enough to secure a medal at Beijing but Paralympian Andrew Lindsay has vowed to fight on.
Despite obtaining his fastest time this year, the Cowdenbeath-based swimmer saw his medal hopes dashed as he lost his eight-year hold on the 100m backstroke to American Lantz Lamback.
And, though he says the 2012 London Paralympics are too far off to begin contemplating, he is nonetheless focused on improving “year by year”.
The 28-year-old told Press Sport, “The times were the fastest I’ve done this year.
"I knew it was going to be tough but I didn’t expect them to be that fast.
“I knew of the American guy who broke the world record in the heats and we thought he had played his cards then.
“But to go another two seconds faster in the final was a bit, ‘Woah! Where did that come from?’”
Lamback shaved a further three seconds off his qualifying time (1:17.26) to set a new world record (1:14.06) in the men’s 100m backstroke.
Andrew, who was this year voted Scotland’s Disability Swimmer of the Year, added, “I gave it everything I got and couldn’t give anything else, so it’s quite frustrating.
“Before the games, I was doing six weeks of overload training at Stirling University, which is heavy training.
“I was also eating properly – pasta, fish, that kind of stuff – to make sure I was ready.
“I’ll be 32 at the next Olympics, so I don’t yet know about 2012 – you have a lot of youngsters coming through. We already have one 17-year-old on the team.
“One of the highlights for me was little Eleanor Simmons (13) winning two gold medals (100m and 400m freestyle).
"For her to do that at that age is something special. To be honest, I’m just going to take each year as it comes.”
Andrew, competing in his fourth Paralympics, said he enjoyed the atmosphere of the Far East as part of the 35-strong British squad, which included four Scots.
He added, “You couldn’t fault it. It was a bit of a culture shock and strange being out on the streets but I had a very good time.
"A lot of people have approached me since I came back to say they saw me on TV, which has been nice. It doesn’t faze me to be honest, I just focus on my race.”
The Cowdenbeath and Celtic fan now has his sights set on the British short course event (25 metres) in November with the possibility of the first ever world short course competition in Brazil next year.
And Andrew, who has spinal muscular atrophy, which affects the spinal nerve and legs, is encouraging other disabled youngsters to get involved in the sport.
“I started from a young age and got involved in a local disability club in Dunfermline,” he said.
“Then I moved into a mainstream swimming club and just took it from there.
“Find a local swim club because the majority are taking on disability athletes.”
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