FORD AIMS FOR PRO CAREER
[From back page] Carluke swimmer Mark Ford has set his sights on turning professional, after taking two medals from the European Youth Olympics in Baku last month.
The short-term aim is a place in Team GB at the European Under-18 Championships in Aberdeen next year, but Commonwealth Games and Olympics are very much in his sights.
Ford, 16, took gold in 4 x 100m freestyle, silver in 4 x 100m medley relay and was a finalist in 100m back in Azerbaijan.
The former Lanark Amateur Swimming Club member says forging a career in the sport would be the ultimate dream, but is already taking steps towards that.
He said: “It would be the big dream to have a career in swimming, and this is just a small step on a big path towards that.
“The ultimate aim is to make the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics, that’s the big goal, and I really hope I can make it.
“I want to make the European Juniors team for the Under-18 Championships in Aberdeen, so a home game.
“It’s a Gb-wide team, and to qualify you go through the Olympic Trials in London in April, and I want to make that team in July.”
Mark competed for Lanark ASC for six years, winning multiple Scottish titles and breaking the British Age Group record for 50m backstroke in April 2017.
He joined City of Glasgow in May 2017, and attends St Aloysius College in Glasgow.
He said: “I’ve been in touch regularly with the coach, Karen Kelly, and I left the club on really good terms.
“She has been very supportive, and was my coach for six years, so we did a lot together.
“I’m proud to have come from there, it’s such a good club, and she’s such a good coach.”
Lanark ASC coach Karen Kelly said: “I coached Mark for six years at Lanark. He was a multiple West District champion, Scottish Age Group champion, and holds a number of Scottish Age Group records.
“A highlight for me was when he broke the 13-years British Age Group record for 50m backstroke in Aberdeen two years ago at the Scottish Age Group Championships, his last competition as a Lanark swimmer.
“It has been great to watch him progress and get to the level he is at now, with Danielle Brayson, his coach at City of Glasgow.
“Mark is very dedicated, focused, and knows where he wants to be in his swimming.
“More importantly, he knows the amount of hard work and application that is required to reach his goals.”