Swimming: Craig Benson still coming to terms with securing Olympic spot

And even as he wandered around the London Aquatics Centre yesterday, the Warrender 17-year-old could still hardly believe he would be back in five months’ time swimming for Team GB at the Olympic Games.

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” said the new Scottish 100 metres breaststroke record holder as he enjoyed a bite to eat in the swimmers’ canteen.

“As soon as I hit the wall on Sunday night I just turned round, looked at my name, my time (1:00.47) and my position (second) and realised I had made it. I was in total shock.”

When London was awarded the Olympics back in 2005, Benson was a ten-year-old member of his local club, Livingston Dolphins. In fact, he only took up the sport because his brother Andrew had asthma and his parents had heard swimming was good for the condition.

“I just wanted to follow him. There are certainly no swimming genes in the family – my Dad can’t even swim,” said Scotland’s newest sporting star, who will be back in the pool today to compete in the 200m breaststroke. “When London got the Games I vaguely remember the announcement and a lot of people cheering, but I would never ever have believed I would be taking part.

“In fact, even a year ago I would never have believed I would be in this position.”

It was victories in the World Junior Championships and the Commonwealth Youth Games last summer that added the extra spark of confidence.

Since then, Benson and Warrender coach, Laurel Bailey, have tracked the perfect path to what he acknowledges will be “a once in a lifetime moment” in London at the end of July.

“Everyone dreams about taking part in a home Olympics,” he pointed out. “Hopefully, I will also go on to Brazil in 2016. That’s when I should be at my peak.”

Back home, there was pandemonium at his school, James Young High. Benson is in the sixth year, although he hasn’t been at too many classes this session, and won’t return to Scotland until Saturday.

“But he’ll be back soon to talk at assembly,” joked the headmaster, Christopher Horne. “We are so proud of Craig. There is a Facebook page for him and the rest of the sixth year have been following him all the way. There were messages flying everywhere on Sunday night.

“It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. He is totally unassuming. He is a very, very clever boy and got four Highers last year, three As and a B. At the start of his sixth year we had discussions about him applying for Bath or Edinburgh University. places that would suit his swimming.”

But Benson isn’t looking any further than the Olympic fortnight. “I just signed up a few weeks ago with Red Sky Management in Edinburgh and I’m now totally focused on swimming,” he said. “Laurel has been amazing over the past few months, arranging everything and getting me into shape. Mum (Janice) and Dad (Nigel) are also great because I’m not driving yet and they take me to the nine or ten weekly sessions at Ainslie Park.”

The youngster has one more dream to fulfil – he wants to meet his hero, David Wilkie, who of course won gold for Warrender in the 200m breaststroke at the 1976 Olympics.

“It would be amazing if I get the chance to speak to him before the Olympics,”