BE prepared to feel old; Evie Davis is too young to remember Glasgow 2014.
In fact, she barely remembers Gold Coast 2018 either.
But such is the talent of the teenager – she turned 18 last week - she will be making her Commonwealth Games debut in just two months time in Birmingham and she admits that even she has been taken aback by her rise.
“I was only 10 when Glasgow 2014 was on so I don’t remember it at all. And even Gold Coast, I don’t really remember either,” she says.
“I wasn’t paying too much attention to the Commonwealth Games because even though it was only four years ago, I hadn’t even considered I’d be at the next one.
“So it’s so exciting to think I’ll be going there myself this summer.”
Davis’ breakthrough season came last year, hot on the heels of spending the previous summer training in a makeshift pool in her garden in her hometown of Bromley, held by a bungee rope to provide resistance.
Having long been talked about as an up-and-coming talent in the freestyle sprints having won European Junior silverware in 2019, Davis began to make waves as a senior at the British Championships last April, obliterating her personal best and breaking the British age-group record in the process.
Her performance earned her a call-up to the GB squad for the European Championships, where she was far from out of her depth, helping the women’s and mixed relay squads to gold medals.
Such was the strength of her swims, she was even talked about in Olympic terms, with whispers abounding that she may have done enough to earn a call-up to Tokyo 2020. In the end, the selectors decided to leave the teenager at home, allowing her instead to go to yet another European Junior Championships where she picked up another two medals.
And although she admits that until that point an Olympic appearance hadn’t even crossed her mind, watching it from her home in Bromley wasn’t always easy.
“It was quite tough not being there,” she says of the Olympics.
“At the start of the season, I wasn’t expecting to make the Olympics so when I didn’t get selected, it wasn’t a terrible disappointment – I’d gone into trials aiming only for a PB so to finish where I did and swim the times I did was amazing.
“What’s encouraging too is that although last year I swam a big PB, technically, there’s still a lot to work on.”
As the Commonwealth Games approach, Davis, who qualifies to swim for Scotland through her mum, is in the home straight of her preparations.
One of her final competitive appearances before Birmingham will be this weekend, at the Glasgow International Swim Meet, which begins today at Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
Davis believes she is in good form but she has somewhat more on her plate than most of her slightly older competitors currently do.
The teenager is currently smack bang in the middle of her A-levels, with her first one, in psychology, having taken place earlier this week.
The next few weeks may require something of a juggling act but, in the pool, Davis is already being talked about as the next big thing in Scottish swimming.
It is quite a pressure but the teenager is, she insists, almost entirely oblivious to any hype around her.
However, she has, she admits, had to rest her goals having burst onto the senior scene far earlier than expected.
“I had such a good year last year so it did change my mindset but it’s about trying to come to terms with the fact that last year was a best case scenario and not every year is going to go so smoothly,” she says.
“I think part of my disappointment at my performance at trials this year was because my expectations are so much higher now.
“I don’t feel like people know my name yet though, I still feel very much like I’m trying to break through.
“Also, being in London and at a small club, I’m in my own bubble in a lot of ways and I think that can be helpful.”
The Commonwealth Games are going to be particularly special for Davis as she will, for the first time, be rubbing shoulders with some of the superstars of her sport.
Currently, the best sprint freestyler in the world is Australian, Emma McKeon who will likely be in Birmingham to defend her four Commonwealth titles she won in 2018.
And the teenager admits the thought of lining up next to the Olympic 100m freestyle champion is quite a prospect.
“I’m hoping for a PB in Birmingham,” she says.
“And it’d be so cool to be in the lane next to someone like Emma McKeon – it’s funny though, you see these people on television and they’re incredible but then you stand next to them and you realise they’re actually just a normal person.
“I don’t think I’ll get too star-struck – in the moment, I’m pretty good at staying focused so I reckon it’ll be a few days later I’ll be like wow, that was crazy.”
Davis will be in exalted company at the Glasgow International this weekend, with an impressive line-up in what will be one of the last competitive outings for many of Britain’s top swimmers before they head to the World Championships in Budapest next month.
Six-time Olympic medallist, Duncan Scott will be in action, as will his fellow Olympians, Cassie Wild, Lucy Hope, with almost all of Scotland’s nominated swimmers for the Commonwealth Games due to be competing, as will the Icelandic national team and contingents from Denmark, Ireland and England.
