Scots break medal record Down Under

TEAM SCOTLAND surpassed their best-ever medal tally at an away Commonwealth Games yesterday — with the promise of more to come before the action on the Gold Coast comes to an end. Shooter David McMath won Scotland’s seventh gold medal in the double trap to break the old record after team-mate Linda Pearson had earlier won a bronze in the women’s event to equal the tally of 29 from Melbourne 2006. Maria Lyle took silver in the T35 100 metres after diver James Heatly had won an historic bronze to leave the Scots on an overnight haul of 32 medals. And Scotland are guaranteed at least another two medals after boxers Reece McFadden and John Docherty both made it through to the semifinals in the 52kg and 75kg divisions respectively, with Eilidh Doyle and Jake Wightman also hopeful of success on the track in their

respective finals today. Yesterday, Heatly’s story was perhaps the most compelling of the lot. He picked up a bronze in the 1metre springboard event here, becoming the first Scottish diver to win a Commonwealth Games medal of any colour since 1958. His late grandfather, Sir Peter Heatly, was the last man to achieve that honour, his gold in Cardiff completing a hat-trick of victories at consecutive Games — a feat no other Scot has done. In the crowd at the Optus Aquatics Arena, James’ dad Robin was waving the very Saltire that Sir Peter — who died aged 91 in 2015 — had carried into Cardiff Arms Park as Scotland’s flagbearer 60 years ago. James, who didn’t risk bringing the precious family heirloom down from the stands for the lap of honour and medal ceremony, said:

‘The flag stays in my bedroom at home and it’s very special. I got given it at his funeral by an old diver who used to dive with grandpa. My grandpa got to see my dive in Glasgow (at the 2014 Games), which was amazing. He always said he was holding on for Glasgow. ‘I was thinking about him earlier on today. There are so many emotions swirling round my head, I’m a bit overwhelmed right now. ‘It means the world to me to have done what I’ve done.’ Lyle, meanwhile, hopes an imminent reclassification of para-athletes will make her bid for gold a fairer fight in future. The 18-year-old trailed in well behind Aussie winner Isis Holt in a race that saw the sevenstrong field separated by nearly 13 seconds from first to last. The vast differences in disability across the competitors highlighted one of the major problems facing para-sports, which is why the IPC are taking action. Lyle, who suffers from diplegic cerebral palsy, said: ‘We’re all getting classified. The sport is changing. The IPC are taking steps to make it fairer. ‘It wasn’t my best performance but winning a silver is amazing. I don’t get the opportunity to wear the Scotland vest that often. So to wear that, perform and run in front of a massive crowd is a great learning experience.’ Gold medalist McMath, meanwhile, will not be back to defend his title in Birmingham in four years’ time — because shooting has been dropped from the Games programme. The 21-year-old said: ‘I’m not very happy with it but have to live with it. As my last event in double trap, I couldn’t have asked for any more than a gold medal here.’