Success at the New Zealand Masters Games has revived Lauren Greenshield's swimming ambitions and she now wants to get back into the international arena.
Greenshields (27), an administrative assistant at Moana Pool, competed for Great Britain in the 200m breaststroke at the European championships in 2005 and 2007 and then took a break from swimming.
She broke Scottish senior records in the breaststroke and a Great Britain junior record.
Greenshields returned to swimming when she settled in Dunedin two years ago and is a member of Gennadiy Labara's Osca squad.
"The plan is the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014," she said. "I would like to race for New Zealand because this is my new home."
Greenshields just needs to gain her citizenship to be able to represent New Zealand.
She demonstrated her talent by breaking three national masters records at this week's New Zealand Masters Games: 200m individual medley (2min 23.96sec), 50m (34.42sec) and 200m (2min 38.46sec) breaststroke in the women's aged 25 to 29 grade. She was also in two record-breaking Otago relay teams.
The support of the Dunedin Masters Swimming Club got Greenshields back into swimming after she retired from the competitive scene at the age of 21.
"They brought the flame back," she said. "I never thought I'd race again."
Her supervisor at Moana Pool, Steve Prescott, persuaded her to attend a lunch-time training session "They didn't give me an option. I had to race," she said.
She had been out of the water for nearly six years and found it difficult to return to a rigid training regime with Labara's squad.
"It took me a wee while to get back into things but I'm loving it again which is the main thing for me," she said.
Her times at the Masters Games indicate she is not far away from her personal-best times.
Her best time in her specialist 100m breaststroke is 1min 10sec and she swam 1min 13.09sec this week. She was 13sec down on her best time for the 200m breaststroke but this is understandable because she will need to do the endurance work to get back to her best.
Greenshields impressed with her relaxed breaststroke style during the Games.
"I like to keep it nice and long and controlled," she said.
She swam under water for 7m after each turn.
"The stronger the turn the more advantage you get. The turns have always been one of my strengths. I will have to work hard on that."
Greenshields has not been able to put all her attention on swimming recently because she has been organising her wedding to Dunedin export broker Tig Jocelyn. The wedding is in her home town of Peebles in Scotland next month.
"Gennadiy said there will be no more freedom when I get back. I will have to get training."
Lauren Greenshields
At a glance
• Age: 27.
• Home town: Peebles, Scotland.
• Resident: Dunedin.
• Occupation: Administrative assistant Moana Pool.
• Sport: Swimming.
• Record: Represented Great Britain at European championships 2005, 2007; set Great Britain junior records and Scottish senior records in 200m breaststroke.
• NZ masters records: 200m individual medley (2min 23.96sec), 50m (34,42sec) and 200m (2min 38.46sec) breaststroke) in women's aged 25-29 grade.
• Future goal: 2014 Commonwealth Games.
