Swimming: Michael Jamieson prepares to go for broke in final

MICHAEL Jamieson has promised to give his friends and family an easier ride in the final of the world 200m breaststroke after admitting it is time for a change in his tactics.

The 22-year-old, born in Glasgow but is now based in Bath, went from sixth to second in the final 100m of his semi-final at the World Swimming Championships to keep alive his medal chances in Shanghai.

Jamieson clocked 2:10.54 minutes as he trailed home in second position behind American Eric Shanteau, qualifying as the sixth fastest for today's final. The Scot will join fellow Brit Andrew Willis in the final. Willis was fourth in the first semi-final in 2:10.49, with Japan's four-time Olympic and three-time world champion Kosuke Kitajima the quickest into the final with 2:08.81.

The British pair were only a second off the top three. But the go-slow, tentative approach to racing is now set to change for Jamieson, who is promising to throw caution to the wind and no longer rely on his final 50m to bring him into contention.

"I'm delighted to be in the final but I think, at times, I am relying a little bit too much on the last 50m," he said. "In the final I'm just going to have to be brave and just go for it. I have nothing to lose. I'm going to take it out and hopefully I will bring it back just as well. I'm such a natural 200m swimmer that I always struggle with that front-end speed, but it is so close in the final and I still think there is a bronze medal up for grabs there.

Earlier in the week, Jamieson was left disappointed as he crashed out of the 100m breaststroke at the semi-final stage.

But he is convinced getting his less-favoured event out of the way early has handed him the perfect platform to challenge for a podium position.

"It was good to get the 100m in at the start of the week just to settle the nerves," he said.

Meanwhile, Scotland's other performers yesterday were in the women's 4x200m relay final, where Hannah Miley and Caitlin McClatchey joined forces with Rebecca Turner and Jo Jackson and finished sixth in a time of 7.53.51 minutes, with America taking the gold and Australia and China the silver and bronze medals respectively.

• British Gas is supporting the British Gas GBR Swimming Team to win more gold medals, as part of its partnership with the sport at all levels. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming.