Edinburgh International Swimming Meet: Tom Dean has Olympics in sights

However, with LA in thoughts, Dean determined recent impetus was wanted and opted to affix his huge pal Duncan Scott and others on the University of Stirling. It is a change he’s revelling in.

“I got through my first Stirling winter and the days are starting to get longer, which is quite nice,” he says. “It’s flown by and I’m absolutely loving it.

“It appears like once I was 18, and I used to be utterly new, with coaching companions that may push me, and I must earn my stripes another time. It’s been an actual kick up the bottom and given me a brand new burst of vitality.”

The move has also given Dean a cultural education.

He now knows there are two different types of sausage that go in breakfast rolls and, thanks to their shared training facilities, he is now fully appraised in the ways of the Team GB curlers who won silver at the Winter Olympics.

Exploring the hills around Stirling are also on his agenda but, first, Dean will compete in the 200m and 400m freestyle over the next couple of days at the Edinburgh International Swim Meet – live on the BBC.

“I really like the Edinburgh meet,” he adds. “It’s an actual staple – like a British trials earlier than the British trials as a result of everybody’s at this meet.

“So if I can go out there and put some good performances on for myself in my own lane, that’s what I want from this weekend.”