Scots clinch gold in women’s fours title
hAVING toiled for years on mats, bars and assorted other apparatus to elevate himself to the position of olympic medallist, Dan Purvis confesses to total ignorance over the whereabouts of the bronze treasure he took home from London. “My dad keeps hiding it,” the Corby-based Scot reveals. “he doesn’t trust me not to lose it. When I want it, I have to ask him to get it for me.”
That small proclivity aside, little else has appeared beyond the reach of the 22-year-old in 2012, with a european title now among his souvenirs and the prospect of more to follow as he seeks individual honours to accompany the team spoils he helped deliver for Great Britain last summer.
It took a while, he says, for his achievement at the olympic Games to fully sink in. The public’s reaction caught him unawares. “It was really mad at first, especially somewhere like London which is such a big city,” he recalls. “You expect to just blend in. It was weird but also nice, being known for something. We were all talking about it, the whole team, how we were getting recognised even when we were out shopping. I felt like a rock star almost.”
he sought some normality in Spain where the occasional autograph request was still placed in his way. however, it was only a brief respite. The road to rio 2016 starts here, with his first major challenge since the Games arriving today in Glasgow, where the World Cup will be staged at a capacity-filled emirates Arena.
Purvis, who won the event two years ago, concedes his ambitions are far from fulfilled. In London, he was in contention in the all-round event but slipped up, literally, on his parallel bars routine and ended There was further success for Scotland at the World Bowls Championships in Adelaide yesterday with Margaret Letham skipping Michelle Cooper, Lynn Stein and Caroline Brown to a stunning gold medal in the women’s fours title against Malaysia.
The golden girls settled into their stride quickly with four shots on the opening end and three ends later had extended that advantage to 6-1.
As expected, though, the Malaysian’s came back at them and cut the deficit to 8-7 at the halfway stage. But, once again, the Scots dug deep and responded with another count of four followed by a treble two ends later to move 15-8 ahead. With the finishing line in sight, they up 13th. “From an individual point of view, I didn’t do the best I could have,” he reflects. “But because we got a team medal, I feel more motivated than ever now for rio.”
he proved a point to himself last weekend in Stuttgart, surpassing a cluster of London medallists to come second in a tuneup competition, enhancing the sport’s current feelgood factor still further. Before Christmas, with the post-London inquests now complete, UK Sport will announce its funding allocations with gymnastics expected to be among the chief beneficiaries after improving on the solitary medal picked up by Louis Smith at the Beijing Games of 2008.
More investment, Purvis believes, would reap dividends.
“it was weird but also nice, being known for something. i felt like a rock star almost” Dan Purvis
“After Beijing, where Louis got his medal, we were able to get a bit of funding. And that really helped. We’ve got a really good structure now. We exceeded our expectations at London by quite a bit so you hope we’ll get more funding and an even stronger system in place.”
Smith will be looking for high marks from the judges today, but on Strictly Come Dancing’s dance floor rather than in Glasgow. Purvis’ mum Denise, who comes from Dundee, is more of an addicted viewer than her offspring, recording every tango and waltz for posterity. “So I fast forward through it to watch Louis,” he laughs. “he’s doing really well. he’s always been a bit of an entertainer in the gym so it’s really his scene.”
Purvis will not played the safety card over the last five ends to run out deserved 18-15 winners.
A delighted David Gourlay, the Bowls Scotland head coach said: “These girls have been brilliant over the last eight days, winning ten straight section matches after an opening draw against New Zealand, followed by a one-sided 19-6 semi-final win over South Africa.
“They’ve done themselves and Scotland proud. With bronze medals in the pairs and triples as well, all their hard work over the last few months has paid off and they thoroughly deserve this accolade.”
There could be further gold for the Scots today, with David Peacock going for the triples title for the third time in a row after taking the title in Ayr and then Christchurch. This time Darren Burnett will play second
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such glittering diversions. Gymnastics provides artistry enough. With Glasgow’s soon-to-open hydro Arena confirmed yesterday as the venue for the world championships in 2015, he has plenty of dances on his card before the next olympics, the Commonwealth Games included.
If London left him in a tempo- and Graeme Archer will skip when the Scots go head-to-head against the host nation in the title decider.
In yesterday’s other matches, Australia won the men’s fours title against South Africa 23-13 and there was further disappointment for the Springboks as Gerry Baker lost in the singles semi-final to Canada’s ryan rary daze, his focus is now fully back on achieving performances without flaw. Christmas will be spent concocting new tricks and fresh routines. “I feel like I’m getting back to full fitness. But it was hard, mentally and physically, to come back after a break and motivate myself to work hard.”
The field he faces today, Bester. Baker led 10-8 and never scored again as Bester ran out the 21-10 winner.
The second singles semi-final between Aussie Leif Selby and Shanon McIlroy from New Zealand will be played tomorrow morning and the final later in the day. Kiwi Val Smith and Aussie Karen Murphy will also battle it out for the women’s title.