Our swimmers are in safe hands with Shanahan
AS ONE Scot announced herself on the Commonwealth stage, another was raging against the dying of the light eight years after stealing the show in Glasgow. Retired last winter when it felt swimming could offer him no more joyous days in the sun, Ross Murdoch succumbed to the inner voice that told him to shoot once again for the moon. Returning to the 200metres breaststroke final of the Commonwealth Games, the champion on a glorious evening in Glasgow 2014 was grateful he listened to his instincts last night as he celebrated to the hilt once again. Bronze this time, the same as impressive compatriot 18-year-old Katie Shanahan, but a week away from bidding farewell to swimming for good, it felt every bit as glittering as gold. Unexpected. Unimaginable as he drew up plans for a sporting after-life at the turn of the spring, the 28-year-old pulled a surge out of the hat. Ahead, James Wilby came up just short in his brave bid to defend his title when the Glasgow-born Englishman was overhauled by Australia’s Olympic champion Zac StubbletyCook who succeeded the two Brits as champion in 2:08.07.
Murdoch punched the water and punched the air. If this is all he gets in Birmingham, it will be quite the parting gift.
‘I can’t describe what that means to be to get on the podium along side my long time buddy James,’ he said. ‘It was a hardfought race. It was a hard season Every season has its challenges but this one more than normal. It’s just an unbelievable moment.’
It was a night for Scottish bronzes. It is only a few weeks since Shanahan partied the night away at her school prom in Glasgow. Last night, she was busting all the right moves as she came third in the women’s 400m individual medley.
Soon to take up a place studying journalism at Stirling University, the European junior champion of 12 months ago has now graduated into the big leagues. She knocked six seconds off her time in the morning heats to clock 4:39.37.
This was an occasion for precocious teens to hold their hands in the air. Gold went to Canada’s Summer McIntosh at the age of just 15 — in a world junior best and a Games record of 4:29.01. It felt like she was the length of Birmingham’s famous Broad Street ahead of Australia’s Kiah Melverton. Shanahan began the final freestyle leg in second but the star of the future was bolting out of sight.
A twice-former champion in this event, now retired and on TV duty here, beamed in approval. Hannah Miley has taken time to mentor the next generation of Scots. ‘We all follow in her footsteps and trying to follow what she’s achieved and her legacy,’ said Shanahan. ‘It’s really special stuff. I’m fortunate to be able to do something in this event because it’s hard.’
She provided some inspiration of her own. Toni Shaw watched from behind the curtain before her turn in the S9 100m freestyle final. Four years ago in Gold Coast, she was the youngest member of Scotland’s travellers Down Under. Now a world champion and Paralympic medallist, she collected Commonwealth bronze in 1:03.75.
Lucy Hope was sixth in the women’s 200m freestyle as Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus headed an Australian 1-2-3 ahead of Mollie O’Callaghan and Madison Wilson. England took silver behind Australia in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay with the Scottish quartet of Stephen Milne, Evan Jones, Emma Russell and Evie Davis fifth.