Just like grandad!
Commonwealth Games star grabs Scotland’s first diving medal in 60 years ... and he’s grandson of man who won the last one
IN 1958, Sir Peter Heatly won Commonwealth diving gold, making him the pride of a nation.
But his momentous achievement marked the start of a 60-year medal drought for the sport in Scotland.
Yesterday, that decades-long hiatus ended when Sir Peter’s grandson took bronze in the Men’s 1m Springboard.
It made Edinburgh’s James Heatly, 20, Scotland’s first Commonwealth diving medallist since those Cardiff Games – when his father’s father won gold in the Men’s 10m Platform.
Sadly, Sir Peter – who won five Commonwealth Games medals – passed away in 2015 aged 91 and so was not able to witness his grandson diving into Scotland’s sporting history books.
But in the wake of his own success, Heatly paid tribute to the man who was his mentor – as well as chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation from 1982 to 1990.
‘My grandfather was my inspiration and he’s the reason I’m doing this today,’ Heatly told BBC Sport. ‘I’m a bit emotional right now because it means so much to me.’
Heatly lost out to England’s Jack Laugher, who took gold, and Australian silver medallist James Connor.
Thankfully, Sir Peter lived to see his grandson compete in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games four years ago. Then only 17 years old, Heatly achieved top ten finishes in the Men’s 1m and 3m Springboard events.
Describing his journey to a Commonwealth medal in a pre-Games interview, the youngster said: ‘My dad was in the Marines and for a spell we lived in America in Virginia Beach. We had a pool in our garden, so we used to put a trampoline next to it and dive in.
‘Grandpa came over to visit around that time and that was when he started teaching me some moves. We moved back to Scotland shortly after and that was when he said I should start diving properly.
‘I did – and I’ve never looked back since.’
Heatly added: ‘I’ve managed to see footage of him diving. He was the first person in Britain to do a front three-and-a-half somersault from 10m, so he was a trailblazer.
‘He was also chairman of the Scottish Sports Council for a long time, so this will be the first Games he has not been at since his first one in Auckland back in 1950.
‘That’s quite sad – but winning a medal would be a fitting way to honour his memory. I’d love that.’
Sir Peter won his first Commonwealth medal at the 1950 Games. He sailed for five weeks to reach Auckland, New Zealand, to compete in the British Empire Games, as they were then known.
In a sign of the times, the female competitors were chaperoned and instructed to knit to keep them out of mischief during the marathon voyage.
As well as his impressive Commonwealth medal haul, Sir Peter also competed at the Olympics, diving at London in 1948 and Helsinki in 1952.