Szaranek vows to be the hero in stormy waters
SILVeR medalist Mark szaranek has vowed to go one better when he returns to the pool for his favourite event tomorrow after battling torrential rain to bag silver in the 400metres individual medley.
the Florida-based scot, who lost out to aussie favourite Clyde Lewis, picked up one of three swimming medals collected by scotland on day two of these Games, which helped them move up to fourth in the table behind only powerhouse nations australia, england and Canada.
He was joined in a podium place by compatriot Duncan scott, who finished third in an epic 200m freestyle final before swimming the lead leg as scotland won bronze in the 4x100 relay.
after enjoying swimming in wild and windy conditions at the open-air optus aquatic Centre, szaranek, whose stronger event is the 200IM, confidently declared: ‘I’ll take a silver for now and look to better it in the coming days.’
Paying tribute to parents John and wendy as he celebrated his first-ever Commonwealth Games medal, the 22-year-old said: ‘My mum and dad are here, a bunch of family and friends, and I’m glad they could be here to see it.
‘that would be them in the stand with the saltire with ‘sZaRaneK’ all over it! I was so happy to see them there when I was walking round doing my lap of honour.
‘My dad coached me from when I was about 12 years old through to 18 or 19 and I went to Florida. He’s had a huge impact on me and continues to do so because I train with him whenever I’m home.
‘I can’t ask for a better dad or a better coach. I’m so thankful for all the opportunities he’s given me and everything he’s done for me.
‘I hope I did them both proud — and I’ll be looking to make them even prouder in the 200.
‘the 200 is my stronger event and I’ll hopefully be able to go one better than this. But this was great. It was just like I said a few days ago — I wanted the rain to come, wanted the wind. a little more of it would have been nice, even!’
scott’s first bronze of the day was his first individual medal in a major event.
then he came back to make another little bit of history as scotland medalled in the 4x100 relay for the first time. Relay specialist scott (below), a world champion with team GB, revealed that coaching staff had staged a seven-man swim-off to pick the best four ahead of last night’s final — eventually producing a quartet capable of a podium finish. ‘It’s the first time scotland has got a medal in that event, so that speaks volumes for what we feel about it,’ said the 22-year-old. ‘there was just an amazing atmosphere around it all and it has been like a 7x100. we had other boys in the heat. we had to swim off to see who would go in the final.
‘there’s been months of preparation, so we could get our first 4x100 medal and here it is.
‘that’s the beauty of relays. It’s been happening in Britain for years in the 4x200 heats at major meets, with swim-offs.
‘You are rivals in the morning and best mates at night to try to deliver something.’
scott, who finished third behind local favourites Kyle Chalmers and Mack Horton in his individual race, is considered a medal shot in the 100 freestyle tomorrow.
But he warned: ‘It is different. If anything, the 100 is even more stacked. the olympic champion is in that one, Kyle Chalmers, and a lot of other great swimmers.
‘It is good swimming against the australians but, when you are out there, you forget about who you are up against and just go for it. the atmosphere spurs you on.’