Water polo scholar opts for computer science over Olympics
Fife teenager Alasdair Campbell who played water polo for the Great Britain youth team in Slovenia, has just completed his first year as a sports scholarship student at Lindenwood University in America. "I seriously considered trying for the 2012 Olympics, and it would have been great," he admitted in an interview with Elspeth Burnside of The Scotsman. "But it would have meant moving to the GB training base in Manchester and living and training there full-time and, to be honest, I had to accept that water polo is never going to provide me with a decent living.
"Britain has no chance of getting a medal and so, after 2012, I would have been left high and dry. It was much more sensible to go to America, still be able to play at a high level and also study for a degree.
"I've settled in really well at Lindenwood, and really enjoy it. The university is near St Louis in Missouri and the facilities are fantastic. We won our division and I'm looking forward to staying there for another three years."
By the time the British team starts its London Olympic campaign, Campbell intends to be a fully qualified computer scientist with the security of a regular pay packet. But while GB water polo might have lost a potential star, the Scottish game has unearthed a valuable asset.
Campbell is certain to be a key member of the 2010 Scottish team that will compete in the Commonwealth 
Championships in Singapore, and he also hopes that his chosen sport will have some part to play in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
By then, his twin 14 year old brothers Darren and Christopher have every intention of following in Alisdair's footsteps and going to the US on water polo scholarships. They have helped Dunfermline win this year's Scottish Under-21, Under-17 and Under-14 Cups and Fife recently became the first Scottish team to win the ASA British Under-16 Cup in Manchester.
The driving force behind the polo boys is Brian Campbell. He is the Dunfermline team coach and has played a huge part in galvanising a resurgence within the Fife area. "My main interest is encouraging more youngsters into the sport, both boys and girls," he said. "There have been some exciting developments over the past few years."
What slightly irks him is the sometime uncomfortable relationship that exists between swimming and water polo. "The two disciplines should work more together, but polo is seen as the dark side."
"Apparently, water polo is bad for the stroke," Alasdair notes. "But I think it takes so much more effort that it makes it tighter and stronger. I started as a competitive swimmer, and it would be good if a lot more people would move on into polo. It really is a great sport. It is very physical but also needs a lot of thought."
Brian's brother, Dougie Campbell, was one of Scotland's best-known water polo exponents. He was rated the best player in Britain in 2002 and competed for Lancaster in the National league. He has since emigrated to Australia, but Alasdair, Darren and Christopher are continuing the family trait. Alasdair Campbell sets off: http://www.dunfermline wpc.co.ukwpc.co.uk/
Source: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/