GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN SMILE
Reid and Marshall both make history for Team Scotland
GRACE REID and Alex Marshall made golden history for Scotland as the nation’s overall medal tally moved to 41 at the Commonwealth Games. Reid, 21, became the country’s first female diver to win gold with her stunning victory in the one-metre springboard, while bowler Marshall, 51, affectionately known as ‘Tattie’, is now Scotland’s most successful Games competitor of all time after bagging his fifth title yesterday. Jubilant Reid — who made her Games debut in Delhi aged just 14 — said: ‘I just loved every second of that. It was unbelievable. ‘Experience came into play and I went into autopilot.’
AWEEK on from hirpling around in a moon boot, Grace Reid stepped on to the top podium at the Optus Aquatic Centre, beamed a huge smile up to the crowd — and led the large Caledonian contingent in a rousing rendition of Scotland’s anthem.
Flower of Scotland was heard for the ninth time at these Games thanks to a spectacular display of skill, poise and nerve from the 21-year-old diver as she landed her first major individual title.
Her gold in the one-metre springboard was Scotland’s first Commonwealth Games diving title in 60 years. And she is the first female diver ever to win gold for the nation.
With her second, more preferred event to come today, the Edinburgh athlete — who moved to London last year — could yet leave the Gold Coast with two pieces of precious metal in her hand luggage.
Eight years on from making her Games debut as a schoolgirl in Delhi, Reid — who likes to joke about going from ‘Baby Grace’ to ‘Grandma Grace’ in the Team Scotland dynamic — was absolutely superb in the one-metre springboard.
Using a Saltire towel to dry off between dives — and watched by Team GB synchro partner Tom Daley — she put together a great series of scores.
She also overcame a rare case of stage fright to ‘gie it laldy’ when the anthem started.
Reid, who didn’t stumble over a single word in either verse, admitted she had initially considered not singing.
‘I thought: “Don’t embarrass yourself!”. Then I thought: “Don’t be so silly, if you don’t sing now, when are you ever going to sing?”. ‘I’ve never stood on a podium to Flower of
Scotland before, so that was one of the biggest honours of my career.
‘I’m maybe not surprised, just a bit speechless. A lot of hard work has gone into this season, there have been ups and downs, especially with my injury (a bone spur in her foot).
‘That’s been a real battle in the past couple of weeks particularly, so to be able to go in and focus like that today, it was surreal.
‘I was in a moon boot last week — and the week before. It was more precautionary.
‘I like to train hard, I’m always giving 110 per cent, which isn’t helping.
‘But we’re dealing with it and it won’t stop me training. My medical team have been fantastic at just keeping me going as hard as I can without risking more injury.’
There was also a story behind the patriotic choice of towel, Reid revealing: ‘We were given them specially by Aberdeen diving club, they had them made for us.
‘I had a British one, too, but I thought: “No, this one has to be Scottish”.
‘The support we’ve had? Oh my goodness. All the swimmers turned up to cheer us on. They’ve been so lovely. My mum and dad were in the crowd crying somewhere as well.’
Told about her place in the history books, Reid confessed: ‘I had no idea going into it of the stats. But they leave me speechless.’
Reid competes again today in the threemetre springboard just after 10am UK time.