COMMONWEALTH GAMES
2010 Silver medal at Delhi Games caps breakthrough season 2014 Second silver medal in front of raucous home fans in Glasgow 2018 Third silver for flag-bearer and unofficial Scotland captain
BETTER than Glasgow. Quite a claim to make. As anyone who was at Hampden on that magical night could testify.
But Eilidh Doyle is absolutely serious. Her third consecutive Commonwealth Games silver medal is the most precious of all.
It means more than that major championships breakthrough in Delhi eight years ago.
And it even tops the moment of sweet release secured in front of 44,000 uproarious fans at Scotland’s national stadium in the glittering summer of 2014.
For a few heartbeats after last night’s 400metres hurdles here, as the athletes lay or crouched in recovery positions on the track, it looked as if Doyle might be crying. Head in hands, her body was heaving and shaking with effort and emotion.
When Team Scotland’s flag bearer turned her face up towards the Australian night sky, however, she wore a grin so wide and so bright that it spoke volumes.
‘This one means the most to me, I think,’ said Doyle, her smile impossible to shift as she explained: ‘It was definitely the hardest to achieve.
‘Glasgow meant a lot because I was at home. But, to me, the silver was always what was expected of me in Glasgow. It was always going to be a tall order to win the gold and, if I hadn’t won silver, it would have been a bad champs for me.
‘But here, I could have run the best race possible and still not come away with a medal.
‘So to be able to leave it all on the track and get a medal means the world to me.’
The Olympic and world championships relay medallist added: ‘People always think that the Commonwealth Games are easier than other championships. But when you see the calibre of athletes, it’s a strong event.
‘It’s probably the strongest field I’ve ever raced against at a Commonwealth Games.
‘So I knew this would be the toughest shot at winning a medal.
‘I was just so chuffed to get one. I know it’s a silver but I’m so proud of it. It means so much to me.’
Doyle’s starring role in the opening ceremony, leading in all of the Commonwealth’s 71 competing nations at the head of Team Scotland, had put her in a brighter spotlight than even the former Team GB athletics captain and ever known.
Stadium announcer Geoff Wightman — dad and coach of Jake — reminded everyone of her special flag-bearer status during the athlete announcements. To Doyle’s mild chagrin.
Asked if being unofficial team leader had put more pressure on her, she laughed out loud and declared: ‘Oh Christ, yeah!
‘Then Geoff said it right at the start, when he announced the line-up. I was thinking: “Oh, cheers for that, Geoff...” You forget about that when you run the race, you go on to autopilot. But it was a real special moment.
‘And there were so many Scotland flags out there, as well. That made the lap of honour even more special.
‘I did hear people shouting for me at the start — but I tried to ignore it.
‘I knew quite a lot of folk were coming down to watch me. People kept saying to me: “Oh, we’re coming down to support you and cheer you on.” I know they meant well. But it makes me feel so much more nervous when you know people wanting you to win so much.
‘I was glad I could put on a good night for those who came down.
‘It’s been a long day — it’s been a long build-up to this as well.
‘It’s been a long wait for me, purely because I’ve been out here for quite a while, then I had the opening ceremony.
‘In Glasgow, I was in and out of the athletes’ village very quickly. So I feel like I’ve been around a long time here. I’ve been watching a lot of it, supporting everyone.
‘I just wanted to do my bit — and I’m glad to have done that.’
Doyle was trailing in third coming round the final bend, with a number of athletes in a position to deny her even bottom spot.
To leave it all on the track and get a medal means the world to me
If she could do nothing to close the gap on eventual winner Janieve Russell, however, there was no way Wenda Nel was going to escape.
Closing hard over the final two hurdles, the 31-year-old delved deep into her reserves and did enough to equal her previous best.
If the fact that it was still mid-morning in Kinross precluded the idea of dancing in the streets, you can bet there were quite a few front rooms in her home town filled with celebrations.
Doyle clearly gave everything she had to give, the least we’ve come to expect, in a race that will be long remembered as one of the most enjoyable Scottish moments of these Games.
‘That was hard work,’ she admitted, adding: ‘I’m not going to lie. I knew, coming down the home straight, that there was a line of us and I had to make sure I got that last hurdle right. Thankfully I did. And thankfully I just managed to hang on and get the silver medal.’
A key member of the Scottish 4x400 relay squad who definitely fancy their chances of a medal here, Doyle didn’t dismiss out of hand the idea of adding a team gold to her tally at the Carrara Stadium on Saturday.
‘That would be amazing,’ she said. ‘But I’m just so happy going home with a silver now.
‘I’ve had a really good year so far. And I like going to championships and coming home with a medal. It’s just great being able to do it once again.’