I OWE THE PEOPLE OF BIRMINGHAM THE WORLD
Powerlifter had life-saving treatment after IED horror
PARA-POWERLIFTER Micky Yule insists he owes the people of Birmingham the world as he prepares to lead Team Scotland into the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in the city tonight.
The former soldier lost both legs – and almost his life – when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan in 2007 and was flown to hospital in Birmingham in a coma.
Fifteen years and more than 40 operations later, Micky can’t wait to share the proudest moment of his career with the city that saved his life after being appointed as co-flagbearer for Team Scotland.
The 43-year-old will lead the 260-strong squad into the Alexander Stadium, which will be packed with 30,000 people and millions more watching on TV, alongside badminton ace Kirsty Gilmour after Scotland appointed two flagbearers for the first time in Games history. He said: “It’s such an immense honour. I’ve seen some of the best athletes Scotland has ever produced have this honour before. “So for me to be doing it jointly with Kirsty is just a dream come true. It’s the highlight of my career. “I flew in here in a coma and didn’t wake up for 10 days then spent eight weeks in Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham. “There’s a little bit of mixed feelings – but they saved my life so it’s not all bad. “It was strange driving here. Birmingham is a great place. It’s a time of my life when there was a lot of stuff going on. I owe the people in Birmingham the world, really.”
Micky was Staff Sergeant with The Royal Engineers in Afghanistan when he was injured by a Taliban IED in 2007.
Powerlifting was a key part of the Edinburgh soldier’s rehab and, as well as a bronze at last year’s Tokyo Paralympics, he is a multi-weight British Champion and two-time European champ.
Now he’s targeting a first Commonwealth gold in his third appearance at the event.
But it’s the honour of leading out his nation along with Gilmour, who is the first openly gay athlete to carry the Saltire at the Opening Ceremony, which he insists will top the lot.
Proud Kirsty, targeting a gold in her fourth Games to complete the set after taking silver in 2014 and bronze in 2018, said: “What makes this even more special is that I will be walking alongside Micky, who is an inspirational athlete.
“I am also the first openly gay athlete to carry the flag for Scotland – a huge honour for me and for everyone in the LGBTQ community.”