There was excitement and perhaps a slight hint of nervousness as the march was made from Perth Leisure Pool’s upper level, down the winding stairs and into the depths of the changing rooms.
A little wide-eyed nine-year-old kid strapped on his goggles, shuffled to the meet point and stood on the precipice of the calm water and a momentous occasion.
It was Stephen Milne’s first official day as a Perth City Swim Club member and the start of a journey that, certainly to begin with, fell more into the social category than competitive.
In other words, as Milne quickly revealed, joining the club allowed the opportunity to visit a friend’s house after school - and vice-versa - before training would commence later in the evening.
“I had a friend from school who was in the club,” Milne explains. “They had spoken to me and said, if you’re in the club, we can go to each others’ houses after school before going to swimming in the evening.
“I remember the club being very friendly but I was nervous because I didn’t know the simple things like which lane I should be in. I was, however, helped straight away by coaches and volunteers.
“I had been doing lessons with Live Active Leisure at the pool anyway but wanted to give the club a shot. It seems a long time ago but I can vividly remember that day I joined the club.”
That introduction to popular Perth City Swim Club was most likely a familiar tale told across many local households.
There would be a familiar face too in Ann Dickson, the dedicated club coach who has become synonymous with all things swimming in Perth and who would later form a truly spectacular partnership with Milne.
“There were a few volunteers who taught me how to swim when I started off,” Milne continues.
“But I also remember everyone knew it was better to do what you’re told and do it well rather than anything that might make Ann feel disappointed.
“She commanded respect and that in itself was something to look up to. Everyone wanted to do their very best for her and she encouraged us to be the best we could be.
“I wanted to be good at what I did and Ann very much guided me on how to do that, whether on the technical side of things or what I should be aiming for.”
Milne was a decent swimmer from the off although, still very young, there remained no guarantees of success at local level never mind on the international stage.
It had not, however, taken long to harbour dreams of seeing his own name light up at some of the globe’s most prestigious events.
Milne says: “Having watched the 2004 Olympics on the television, that is when my dream started. I had no idea what the journey would look like. I just knew it is what I wanted to do when I was older.”
And so Milne chased his dream. Hundreds and thousands shared similar dreams but few would have the determination - lasting determination - to continually strive for greatness.
As he worked his way through studies at Perth Academy, improvements in the pool continued and continued and continued. The hard work continued and continued and continued.
Often swimmers of Milne’s ability would have joined a specific university programme after leaving high school - whether home or abroad - yet Milne remained loyal to Perth City Swim Club and his coach.
It was a masterstroke and soon the progression from junior to senior was exhibiting the required positive signs and the trajectory to the top was growing closer.
The year 2014 was somewhat of a breakthrough one for Milne and, off the back of Scottish Open Championships 800m and 1500m freestyle gold, a milestone moment arrived. That summer he would be representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“Each part of my swim journey was a stepping stone,” Milne continues. "It went from club to district, then district to national, then national to international.
“It was always a progression and I always set myself high standards and ambitious goals. Even if I didn’t quite reach them, I’d be closer than if I’d set my ambitions lower.
“I’d watched the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and the Scotland team had done really well. It was one of the most successful aquatics teams and I was now competing with some of them in Glasgow.”
Milne was there to soak up the atmosphere, bank memories to last a lifetime and simply revel in the honour of pulling on the country’s cap. But he was also there for success.
A silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay almost lifted the roof off the Tollcross International Swimming Centre and left Milne with a very proud smile on his face.
He explained to the PA: “It was a home games and of course that made it even more exciting.
“The Scottish crowd was so supportive. As soon as I went into the arena, the place erupted and that was really inspiring. I remember having goosebumps all over.
“All swimmers are focused on the race but I couldn’t help feeling excited when walking out. That is why we were there. As swimmers, we train and dedicate ourselves to have these special moments.
“I didn’t have any pressure on me and just soaked everything in. I enjoyed every second of it.”
Sport, as does life, moves at pace and Milne was quite aware that this was not a time to be standing still. It was back to the grind in the waters of the local leisure pool where the next dream was preparing to be fulfilled.
The success was not for stopping and European Championships 4x100m medley relay gold would follow in Berlin before 2015 brought British Championships 1500m freestyle gold and sought-after World Championships selection for Kazan.
The stepping stones Milne had previously mentioned were lining-up beautifully as his attention focused firmly on making Team GB for the summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016.
Twelve years on from first being inspired to compete at the Olympics, the dream was about to become reality.
Milne says: “After the summer of 2014, I had it in my head that it was possible to make the Olympics.
“The trials is obviously a competition that is very important on the calendar. Everyone is desperate to make the team and they had gone pretty well but there were no guarantees.
“It was only after I got the confirmation letter that I could truly see it as reality. I would be representing Team GB at the Olympics. I could enjoy the rest of the season and give it my best shot.”
Roles had been reversed. Milne was now the one powering through the water and, back home, kids perched in front of the TV had a role model.
Some suggest you can still hear the cheers across the city when he won 4x200m freestyle silver. With a smile wider than lane one at Perth Leisure Pool, he would return to a sea of celebration and congratulations.
“What was really lovely was being able to show the local community and people across the country my medal and for them to feel inspired,” Milne revealed.
“It was a nice feeling that I was really part of the community in Perth and was representing it in a positive way.
“I was able to do it from my hometown and I hope that younger members from the club have gained inspiration in a positive way, whether in swimming or outside of it.
“They can have goals and dreams too and achieve them. In the end, it is up to their hard work and dedication.
“But if I was a small piece to their success or helping their dreams come true, then that would be a great feeling for me.”
Still, despite his impressive trophy cabinet, Milne continued to train at the local leisure centre and continued to represent Perth City Swim Club. Some would again question why he had not moved to a bigger programme.
Milne explained: “Myself and Ann had good communication, which is what an athlete and coach should have. We had a good partnership and that is why I wanted to stay at Perth as long as I did.
“It was working, nothing was broken, so why fix it? We had made it to all of these places together. All of the international success was down to the two of us and all of the support we had along the way.
“You need to have the drive and the support around to maintain that drive for as long as possible. Sport is tough both mentally and physically. So I’m grateful I always had the support.
“I enjoyed the training, the red face from working hard in the pool and the satisfaction of doing well.
“The older I got, the harder it became. But that is because sport is always evolving and becoming more competitive. That in its own right is exciting.”
As competition increased, Milne knew he would have to work even harder. When 2018 swung round, again he was among the medals both home and abroad.
And again he earned - earned being the big word - a spot on Scotland’s Commonwealth Games team, this time for the Gold Coast, Australia.
Returning from down under were bronze medals in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle.
“I look back and know it has been a good career,” Milne smiles. “Perhaps there are some athletes who don’t put in the performances they wished or weren’t able to get a medal.
“I am very grateful that I had the opportunity and managed to achieve international success.”
After a slightly quieter period, sport and indeed the wider world was then rocked by the Covid-19 pandemic. Flooding problems and closures at Perth Leisure Pool would not help.
Milne said: “I hadn’t made another senior international team since 2018 at the Gold Coast and the Europeans."
Some may have decided to pack the goggles away with the knowledge that a wonderful career was already behind them. But not Milne. He was not done yet and joined the world-renowned programme at Stirling University.
There, he would train alongside the likes of Duncan Scott and Ross Murdoch in a bid to push for glory on the international stage once more.
“After the lockdown in 2020 I needed that extra push and to spread my wings and have a bit of independence," Milne admitted.
“I wanted a taste of the performance centre in Stirling and work in that environment alongside more senior international athletes. I felt it was the right move and I’m glad I did it.”
Earlier this summer, just before he announced his retirement from the sport, he climbed back to the highest of heights to pull on the Scotland colours one final time.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham Milne, now aged 28, would have the swansong he craved and deserved by clinching bronze in the 4x100m medley and 4x200m freestyle.
He said: “It had been a tough four years but I’m so glad I stuck with it and made the Birmingham team.
“I had such an amazing time with the aquatics team and was delighted to come away with the two bronze medals.
“After Birmingham, I made the decision that I would hang my goggles up competitively. But of course I will be keeping them for my own recreation.
“It was a tough decision but for me was the best decision. I’m now looking forward to the next chapter in my life and seeing where things go from here.
“I almost can’t believe what I achieved and all of the places I went to with the sport. I’m sure I’ll have a moment to really look back on all of it."
Milne concluded: “I will always stay in touch with the swimming community. And if I can ever give anything back, I will.”
