Published: Thursday, 26th February, 2009 4:03pm

Champion Rodgie was set to walk away from swimming

by Simon Harris

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NOT long ago, Dalgety Bay teenager Craig Rodgie wanted to walk away from swimming.

Disillusioned by his disability he was ready to pack in the sport.

But on Wednesday night he stood at the front of the Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline as a world record holder and duly received the award for Dunfermline & West Fife disability athlete of the year at the annual sports awards ceremony.

Rodgie (19), of Moubray Road, took part in the INAS European Swimming Championships in Poland in August in what was his first Great Britain international.

He made a massive impact, winning three gold medals and setting a new world record as part of the Team GB relay team.

In addition, he also won a silver medal in the 100 metres backstroke and bronze in the 100m freestyle.

At the Disability Sport England British senior swimming championships in November he won three silver medals in the 100m freestyle, 100m fly and 50m fly and one bronze in the 50m backstroke, while at the Scottish equivalent championships in May he won three gold medals and set a new Scottish record.

His acheivements were recognised at Wednesday"s sports awards ceremony and he told Press Sport, 'My coach at Carnegie Swimming Club, Dougie Hopkins, has really brought me on.

"At one point I didn"t want to continue swimming any more. I wanted to pack it in with my disability but he got me back into it.'

Rodgie has been nominated to take part in this summer"s Global Games, which will be held in Liberec in the Czech Republic from 5-14th July.