It’s back to the day job for Sherrington, while Flynn hints that pro career awaits
Teams Scotland stars weigh up futures following Games
AS TEAM Scotland took their leave of Glasgow 2014 yesterday evening, not a few of the Scottish gold medalists faced uncertain futures.
The glory had been won, but glory does not pay the wages, and for two of the undoubted Scottish stars of the Commonwealth Games, the future means a need to earn their bread and butter.
Judoka Chris Sherrington, the giant Royal Marine who won heavyweight gold, confirmed his retirement from the sport of judo just before boarding the open-topped vehicle for the start of the Athletes Parade at Kelvingrove. Still ranked as a marine when he could have been a corporal or sergeant, 29-year-old Sherrington said that he needed to get back to the Corps and push for promotion.
No sooner had he done so than Charlie Flynn, Scotland’s boxing sensation of the Games, gave a very strong hint that he will turn professional. The lightweight gold medalist may be pint-sized in comparison with Sherrington, but he stole the limelight in a similar fashion during the Games, and faces monetary issues just the same as the big judoka.
Lawn bowls double gold medalist Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall, on the other hand, committed himself to trying for the Scottish team at the Gold Coast in Australia in four years’ time, and he is off Down Under shortly to check out the scene there. The man who carried Scotland’s flag at Hampden Park’s closing ceremony will be waving the Saltire at the prestigious and potentially lucrative Australian Premier League event in November.
Sherrington and Flynn may possibly be the best talkers to emerge from the Games, and both told a similar story of funding issues that have made them change their futures.
“I went down to British Judo on Monday and did the final signing off,” said Sherrington, who was hotly tipped to be a medalist at the Rio Olympics in 2106. “It was a big decision, but I think it had to be made.
“I am not a young 21-year-old any more, the wife is relying on me to get on with my career, so now is the time to put on my sensible head and hang up my kit.
“I could make Rio, definitely, but if I was going to commit to Rio, I would need to commit to winning it, and unfortunately with the lack of training partners and lack of other backing, it is not going to work out.”
Sherrington’s pension depends on his final rank, so it’s back to the Marines for him: “I won’t miss the judo – trust me, I’m going back to something that’s much more fun than judo.
“The Marines made me a better person, the man I always wanted to be.”
Charlie Flynn, meanwhile faces a huge dilemma over whether to stay in boxing as an amateur when he is not guaranteed to be a member of Team GB at Rio, or turn professional now and cash in on his gold medal fame, just as Alex Arthur did
“Before the Games I was just a wee guy running about in a trackie” Charlie Flynn
after the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur – and the former world champion from Edinburgh didn’t do too badly in the paid ranks.
As much a chatterbox as Amazing Alex, Flynn said: “I am on top of the world, it’s great to go out and see the public and give them something back for what they gave to me.
“Before the Games I was just a wee guy running about in a trackie and nobody knew me. Out doing the road work and hitting the bag, and everybody going ‘there’s that wee nutter that can’t stop training’. But now they see it has all paid off.”
Flynn gave some of the best repartee of the Games – “the mailman always delivers!” – and yesterday revealed where his patter comes from: “I think I’m reading the weans too many bedtime stories!”
He has younger bothers and sisters, and loves to read them the Oz stories about “lions, tigers and bears” – yet he’s still a parttime letter sorter at Wishaw sorting office, who realises that his ring wizardry can magic up a great future for himself.
“All the doors are open to me now, and it’s just whether I go pro or amateur,” said Flynn. “I need to let the dust settle, as I don’t know personally what’s going to be next. I’ve been speaking to both sides, and I have to judge what’s best for a permanent career.”
The odds must be on Flynn turning professional, not least because he can only represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and would need to be in Team GB for the World and European Championships and Olympic Games – “I’ve beat everybody in Team GB, but I am not in Team GB,” Flynn said with meaning. “Amateurs isn’t really an option as I’ve achieved everything I can outside of Team GB.”
While speaking to the press just yards from the scene of his great triumphs, Alex Marshall did not know that he been awarded the Lonsdale Trophy as Scottish Sportsperson of the Year, the honour being conferred on him at last night’s Commonwealth Games Scotland dinner. His famous victory jig after his last two bowls that gave himself and Pairs partner Paul Foster a semi-final victory over England was seen by millions on television and YouTube and has become an iconic moment of Glasgow 2014.
“These things are never planned,” said Marshall. “I got caught up in the emotions and the last two bowls were the best two I have ever played in my life.
“You’ve got to celebrate and sometimes you just can’t walk down the green and shake your opponent’s hand.
“A lot of people think it was (a gesture) to the English support, but it wasn’t, it was purely a celebration.”
Marshall is heading off on holiday to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, where he won’t even touch a bowl.
“After his Caribbean break, he will go to Australia where he will visit the Gold Coast, a place he wants to return to in 2018 for the next Commonwealth Games.
“I want to be there in four years time,” said Marshall. “I’ve won gold back-to-back in the last couple of Games so it’s definitely in my mind to go in 2018, but you don’t know what is going to happen and four years is a long way away.”
Glasgow 2014 was great for bowls, just as Marshall and his bowling colleagues were great for Glasgow.
Marshall said: “I have been bowling for the best part of 40 years, and bowling has never had this media attention, which is good for myself and good for the sport. It’s purely because the Commonwealth Games were in Glasgow, and the Scottish team did so well.
“This parade is a great opportunity to say thanks to Glasgow and Scotland. The crowd were fantastic and Kelvingrove was sensational – I would like to thank the crowd so much, and not just for bowls, as the crowds everywhere were massive for Team Scotland.”
Marshall will carry on bowling for Scotland, then, and Flynn may be persuaded by Team GB’s coaches to join their ranks although a professional career looks likely, while Sherrington retires from the judo mat he graced so hugely.