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When Jacob Whittle blows off steam as a swimmer preparing for the Commonwealth Games, he does so in a literal sense. <\/b><\/p>\n
While the 21-year-old has collected a hoard of medals during his young career in the pool – which includes gold at the World Championships and Birmingham Commonwealth Games in recent years – he has also been busy accumulating a fleet of steam engines. <\/p>\n
Small-scale versions of traction engines sit pride of place in his collection of motors, alongside vintage motorbikes and a treasured tractor. <\/p>\n
All are vehicles he maintains and drives, with each being a distraction from the pressures of competition. <\/p>\n
In the lead up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the swimmer from Alfreton in Derbyshire sat down with BBC East Midlands Today<\/a> sports editor Natalie Jackson to discuss how his hobby has helped him in the pool. <\/p>\n “It is sort of an addiction and not a hobby,” Whittle said with a laugh.<\/p>\n “You can’t stop thinking about it and looking at new things – I love it and it’s a good switch-off for when I leave the pool.” <\/p>\n Whittle’s coach Jamie Main, who is based at Repton School, also talks about Whittle’s dual passion for elite swimming and “rural life”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n