Harper Macleod, Legal Adviser to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, has announced Scottish Para-athlete Sammi Kinghorn as the firm’s Athlete Ambassador ahead of next year’s sporting spectacular.
Sammi, 17, is one of Europe’s leading wheelchair racers and will compete in the T54 1500m event at next year’s Games. In September, she was the youngest of the first 27 athletes to book their place on Team Scotland for the biggest multi-sport event the country has ever hosted.
Harper Macleod Chief Executive Martin Darroch said: “As one of Scotland’s leading law firms, we are delighted to join forces with one of the country’s leading young athletes for what is going to be the most exciting year so far for both of us. We take our association with the Games very seriously and want to ensure it leaves a positive and lasting legacy, both for the firm, our clients and the wider community.
“Sammi encapsulates the values we believe in as a firm – she is dynamic and driven to achieve her goals regardless of any obstacles put in her way. In legal terms, like Sammi, we’re a relative newcomer but that has never held us back and when we were looking for an Ambassador to sum up our association with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games it didn’t take us long to see that Sammi and Harper Macleod were a perfect fit.
“We believe she’ll go on to become one of Scotland’s greatest Para-athletes and can’t wait to cheer her on at Hampden Park next July and for many years to come.”
Sammi said: “I’m delighted that Harper Macleod has chosen me as its Athlete Ambassador and look forward to our association over the coming year. Since being chosen for Team Scotland I’ve been amazed by the support I’ve received, and I’m really grateful that people want to help me do well. I’m really excited about the prospect of competing in front of a home crowd next year, and I’m determined to do all my supporters proud.”
Sammi was injured in an accident in December 2010 and spent five months in the Spinal Injuries Unit of Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital.
Since trying wheelchair racing at the national centre for disability sports at Stoke Mandeville almost two years ago, she has gone from novice to elite competitor with unprecedented speed. She is Scotland’s leading T53 wheelchair racer, holding every national record, and is ranked No.2 in Europe. At Glasgow 2014 she will be competing up a classification in the T54 1500m.
Coached by Ian Mirfin, founder of The Red Star Athletics Club in Glasgow, the country’s premier club for athletes with disabilities, Sammi already has her eyes set on the British & European records held by Tanni Grey-Thompson, a bona-fide legend of para-athletics
Sammi won the women’s race at the recent Great Scottish Run in Glasgow on 6 October, and on 14 October was selected to be supported by UK Athletics as part of its Podium Potential World Class Performance Programme for 2013-2014. This selection is based on her potential to win medals at upcoming Paralympics and World Championships.
Ian Mirfin said: “Competing at this level of wheelchair racing requires a substantial amount of financial support, and backing such as this from Harper Macleod, along with that from the sports authorities, is vital so that athletes such as Sammi can gain the competitive experience they need to become champions.”
As well as being Legal Advisers to and an Official Supporter of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Harper Macleod is also an Official Supporter of Team Scotland.
Jon Doig, Chief Executive, Commonwealth Games Scotland and Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “We are delighted that Harper Macleod is extending its support to Team Scotland through an athlete ambassador initiative. Sammi has shown true talent and ambition in her achievements so far, as well as remarkable mental and physical resilience in overcoming her injuries. She is one of our top Para-Sport athletes and is a true inspiration and she will be excellent ambassador for both Team Scotland and Harper Macleod.”
2013 proved a tough ride for 800m athlete Guy Learmonth but he produced his best just when it mattered.
The 21 year old Borderer ended the track season as one of the first athletes to be selected for Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. But until last month things were not exactly looking rosy.
Back in April he suffered negative effects following altitude training in the Pyrenees and it took him months to rediscover his running legs.
“I couldn’t get moving,” he recalls. “Then I tried hard in training to get back to where I was and picked up a few injuries in my back and glutes.
“I had lots of physiological tests done and they said it was fine; it’s just that I knew it wasn’t fine because I couldn’t run fast. My legs weren’t moving fast.”
After yet another bad race in July Learmonth’s older brother suggested he take a complete break from the sport. But it was his father who convinced him that what he really needed was a break from competition.
“The best thing I did was to listen to my Dad telling me to take four weeks away from competition instead of chasing times and races”, says Learmonth.
“There was no way in the middle of July I was going to take time off completely. And that really defines who I am. I’m pretty resilient and this season has made me way more resilient, and I just have to persevere and get through it and thankfully I did it in the end.
“Then I came back out and pretty much ran the Commonwealth standard instantly.”
Learmonth admits he left it to the eleventh hour to produce a time inside the selection criteria, in his own words ‘salvaging’ the season. Having done so a certain pressure has lifted.
A final year Loughborough University student he plans to complete the last two modules of his course. After that he can devote himself full time to preparing for Glasgow.
“It’s a big weight lifted off my shoulders and there will be no pressure at all on me this winter,” continues Learmonth whose winter training understandably does not involve any altitude training.
“I’m just going to make sure I get it right, and my coaches get the training right, which I know they will and I can peak for the end of July when I need to be running fast.”
He has already had a taste of the atmosphere Hampton stadium, venue for the Glasgow Games athletics event, having been invited by Scottish Athletics to an England versus Wales football game earlier this year. Next summer he will be the one there under the spotlight.
“Competing in a home Games is going to be amazing, an absolute honour to run for my country in Scotland and I just want to do everyone proud,” he says.
“It’s also having the support of the whole crowd, and who can’t run well not run well when there are tens of thousands of people screaming you on.
“I see it as an opportunity and I guess life is about taking opportunities and grabbing them, so I’m going to grab this one and make the most of it. I literally can’t wait to get out there and get racing.”
You can follow Guy on Twitter @GuyLearmonth
Photo Credit: Scottish Athletics
International IT services company, Atos, is on target with the preparation of vital management and information technology systems for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and has now appointed two prospective Team Scotland triathletes as Atos Ambassadors.
Senior executives told a gathering of key Games stakeholders and customers attending an event at Glasgow’s Hampden Park – the main track and field athletics venue during the Games – (Friday, 25 October) that the company’s experience of more than two decades of support to Olympic and Paralympic Games around the world would help power new levels of performance for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
As an Official Supporter of Glasgow 2014, Atos has been working with the Organising Committee to deliver a range of essential Games Management and Information Systems, including the volunteer portal, the games workforce management system, the accreditation management system and the Internet Results Service.
At the event, Atos also announced its further support for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games through the appointment of two of Scotland’s leading Triathletes as Atos Ambassadors.
Team Scotland prospective athletes, David McNamee (25) and Marc Austin (19), will work with the Atos team in the run up to and after Glasgow 2014, to amplify the company’s partnership with the Games and highlight the importance and relevance of information technology in athletic and business performance.
David won a silver medal at the 2011 World U23 Triathlon Championship and so far in 2013 he has recorded two top ten finishes in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series. Marc has represented Great Britain at the last three European and World Junior Triathlon Championships, winning a silver medal in the 2013 Junior World Championships in London earlier this year.
Atos Senior Vice President – Scotland, Gavin Thomson, said: “Everyone at Atos shares the ambitions to create a lasting legacy for Glasgow and Scotland from the Games, making faster progress towards a healthier nation, developing healthy communities and a strong and flourishing economy, so by having athletes like David and Marc ‘on board’, we intend to get those messages across to as wide an audience as possible.”
“Information technology plays an increasingly vital role for everyone involved in sport and at a time when the eyes of the world will be fixed on Glasgow and Scotland, we are already prepared to deliver a performance we will all be proud of.”
Jon Doig, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games Scotland and Team Scotland Chef de Mission said: “As one of the Commonwealth Games Associations participating in the Games, we cannot stress enough just how vital the services that Atos provide are to enable teams to function effectively. A quality accreditation system greatly assists the complex team entry process, whilst accurate, timely information and results help athletes plan their schedules in the final lead-in to competition and allows team management to track progress and promote their success as it happens.
“We are particularly delighted that Atos is extending its support to Team Scotland through an athlete ambassador initiative. Triathlon is one of the most complex and technical sports on the Glasgow 2014 programme and there is great synergy with the expertise Atos brings to the Games. David and Marc are two of our top triathletes and are excellent ambassadors for both Team Scotland and Atos.”
In September, along with 26 other athletes, Mark Dry had his place on Team Scotland confirmed for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Scotland’s top Hammer Thrower found out the news firstly from an email, soon followed up by his official selection letter sent by Commonwealth Games Scotland. “As soon as I was allowed to tell people, I of course first let the Twitter world know and rang my parents. I’m delighted to be selected and it is a great little boost going into winter training.”
“I keep all my selection letters and that sort of stuff in a little folder, I actually still have all my stuff from Delhi in there. But this one means a lot more, I am honestly really proud. But as for the hardware, I let my parents up in Burghead store and polish the medals and trophies.”
Raised in Burghead, Moray, Mark was self-labeled at school as a “Shy little fat kid” who struggled to fit in with the sporting environment during his early years, preferring to keep himself to himself. However, encouraged by his Dad to attend Air Cadets that classifies sport as mandatory, Mark took part in an athletics competition.
“I didn’t run or jump so they put me in the Discus and it all just snowballed from there. I actually went onto win the Scottish counties and represent the UK Training Core Team. It felt amazing to be good at something!”
At 16, Mark got into Hammer Throwing and won the Scottish Indoor Championships just five weeks after starting the sport: “It was the first time I had won anything in my life. I sucked at football, had no skill unlike my friends, so winning something for me was a big change.”
Since then, Mark has gone from strength to strength, with the pinnacle so far representing Team Scotland at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
However, a dark shadow still hangs over him when he thinks about his non-selection for Team GB at London 2012, despite throwing the qualification distance.
“Last year was really frustrating. I had thrown the furthest and in my eyes, I fully deserved to make the Great Britain team. However, they picked someone who threw further in a competition that didn’t count and which was before the qualification period, that upset me. I’m massively sore about it and I’m still carrying a chip on my shoulder.”
Currently based at Loughborough University and with winter training now underway, Mark is fully focused on his sport and out to prove the Great Britain athletics selection committee wrong. Ranked number one in the Commonwealth at the end of the 2013 season and with Team Scotland selection under his belt, Mark has his sights now firmly set on fulfilling his potential at Hampden Park next July.
You can follow Mark on Twitter @Markdry
Photo Credit: Mark Shearman
Early selection for Team Scotland gives Edinburgh squash player Harry Leitch time to fine-tune his sport, and his sport-work balance. By coincidence the 28 year old’s medical career starts on the same week as next summer’s Commonwealth Games.
“I’m due to start in the hospital the week of the Games and now I know I am selected, I will make it clear on my application that I need a week’s holiday.”
Whilst most people would find this a daunting prospect, Leitch, who is close to completing his MB/ PhD at the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge where he is a researcher in stem cells, epigentics and developmental biology, is experienced in high level balancing acts. He represented Team Scotland at both the Melbourne and Delhi Games, on both occasions combining high performance sport with his medical studies.
“For me it’s always worked out okay”, he continues. “Sometimes I didn’t get as much rest as some of the pro athletes but when it’s not your job you have that more naive, kid-like enjoyment of it. And I certainly have that. I just enjoy all the things that I do.”
If there is such a thing as a double life then Leitch leads it. So apart does he keep his two worlds that many close to him at the university don’t even know he plays squash.
“It is bizarre but a lot of my medical friends may not realize that I play squash”, he admits. “And last time during my PhD my supervisors didn’t realize that I played much squash, so when I asked for a few weeks off to go to Delhi they were a bit surprised.”
A semi finalist in Delhi and quarter finalist in Melbourne, Leitch views his four yearly Games appearances in terms of consecutive, progressive steps. With doubles partner Alan Clyne he believes they can go one better in Glasgow.
“The goal is a medal”, he reveals. “The thing about doubles is it’s a very equal playing field. It’s a relatively new sport and we are fully aware there are lots of good teams out there and we have to perform on the day.”
“We had a good experience in Delhi and we know if we play our best and if we get the momentum going that we can medal and if we can medal then we can get gold.”
In Delhi, Leitch and Clyne beat the hot favourite English pair although their upset took place on a backcourt with few spectators. Crowds, hopefully in the thousands, are what Leitch wants in Glasgow next summer. He is even looking forward to the media attention and the pressure of expectation.
Of course Glasgow will be very different from anything that has come before and like the other athletes, Leitch is anticipating the once in a lifetime chance to compete in front of a home crowd.
“Glasgow is going to be hugely different to the other Games”, he adds. “My family never made the journey to Melbourne or Delhi and I’ve got a brother and sister and four nieces and nephews and I think just having those friendly faces and a lot of noise supporting us will be great.”
“We’ve got a very experienced team, still quite young, but experienced. All the ingredients are there so there’s nothing holding us back to really perform in Glasgow.”
You can follow Harry on Twitter @HGLeitch
Photo Credit: Duncan McEwan
Book your places now by contacting:: adrienne.sunderland@cgcs.org.uk
For cyclist Kayleigh Brogan, the road to qualify for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games represents one of deja vu. A bout of anemia left it too late for Brogan to make it to the last Commonwealth Games in 2010 and now glandular fever has put the brakes on her Glasgow 2014 preparations.
Brogan, from Paisley, said: “I was really disappointed I didn’t get to go to Delhi, that really hurt and it just made me hungry for success in Glasgow. I did try to qualify for Delhi, but I was only back in the sport two months. Seeing the bond that Team Scotland had back then and how everyone came together was great and something I was disappointed not to be a part of. The success of Team GB team in London last year and the cycling team in particular just makes you want it even more.”
Starting life as a track cyclist, Brogan has since added road racing to her repertoire and hopes to set the qualifying times in both.
“I love the track”, added Brogan. “It’s so fast and to have the roar of the velodrome during a close race is unbelievable. Over the last year I have grown to really enjoy road racing. As much as it’s hard and can be cold and wet, it’s so different and the two disciplines are both so enjoyable in their own ways.”
“To be racing round the roads of Glasgow, where I grew up, where I’ve gone to university and to have the support of the whole country along the way would be fantastic”, added Brogan.
“Being a home games is massive – I can’t think of anything better. I never could have imagined that the Commonwealth Games would come to Glasgow in my whole lifetime and now it is just around the corner.”
“This is probably the hardest I’ve ever trained and the Commonwealth Games is always in the back of my mind after every race, good or bad it’ll pick you up. If I’ve had a good race I’ll think to myself that’s good, this will go towards qualification; if it’s been a bad day I just have to stay focused on the long-term goal and pick myself up as I’m aiming to be part of a medal winning team for Scotland.”
Kayleigh has unfortunately had to sit out the majority of 2013 with illness, missing the 2013 British Track Championships a few weeks ago and will also be forced to watch the 2013 Scottish National Track Championships this weekend from the sidelines. However, things are starting to look up as she is currently easing herself back onto the saddle and unlike Delhi, there is still time to qualify for Glasgow 2014.
You can follow Kayleigh on Twitter @KayleighBrogan1
Photo Credit: Alistair Devine
It will travel across the globe through the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth carrying a special message from Her Majesty the Queen, but the final lap of the Queen’s Baton Relay will be its last 40 days travelling the length and breadth of Scotland.
Commonwealth Games Scotland and Glasgow 2014 need up to 4,000 special people to be the batonbearers given the honour of carrying this unique symbol of the Commonwealth Games towards its final destination and the Opening Ceremony of the Games.
Yesterday (October 9) at Buckingham Palace in a simple but moving ceremony involving Olympic and Commonwealth legends, Sir Chris Hoy and Allan Wells MBE, Scottish athletes and young people from Scotland and the Commonwealth, Her Majesty The Queen placed Her message into the beautiful titanium and elm wood Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton.
Her Majesty’s message will form the core part of the baton which will travel throughout the Commonwealth and across the Home Nations before returning to Scotland and featuring at the Opening Ceremony in Glasgow on July 23, 2014.
Before it departed on its 190,000km, 248-day international journey, the Queen’s Baton was brought to Stirling, the heart of the country and home of Commonwealth Games Scotland, to launch an appeal for nominations for the batonbearers who will carry it through the communities of Scotland in June and July of next year.
From June 14, 2014 and for the following 40 days, the Queen’s Baton will travel to all parts of the nation, visiting every local authority area.
From the spires of Edinburgh to the peaks of the Highlands; from Border woodlands to island beaches, the Queen’s Baton Relay offers everyone the chance to be a part of the excitement, celebrations and countdown to Scotland’s biggest-ever sporting and cultural festival, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Around 100 batonbearers will carry the baton each day with the relay reaching more than 400 communities during its 40-day journey.
The relay will reflect the important role sport plays in the community by visiting schools, sporting facilities and leisure centres and through a range of events and activities supported by the sportscotland Active Schools Network. The support is focused on encouraging communities to get behind Team Scotland, get involved with the Games and using its profile to get more people participating in sport.
From today (October 10) until 22 November anyone can nominate their own local champions to be batonbearers. To be a batonbearer, people are required to:
Be 12 years old or older at the date of nomination
Have made a positive contribution to the lives of others through community sport
Undertaken voluntary work or contributed to schools or youth organisations
Contributed towards greater inclusion for disadvantaged or marginalised sectors of the community
Been a role model or mentor to youth through sport
Displayed a level of individual achievement against the odds
Made a significant contribution to their local community
Nominations can be made online on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games website www.glasgow2014.com
A Judging Panel including representatives from a wide cross section of Scottish community organisations will assist in selecting the successful nominations for each local authority area.
QBR-Stirling-Web-2.jpgLaunching the Queen’s Baton Relay Route and the nomination of batonbearers Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “The Queen’s Baton Relay is the ultimate symbol of the Commonwealth Games and its arrival in Scotland gives an important signal to both the athletes and the public that the Games are just around the corner.
“As the host Commonwealth Games Association we are delighted to announce today the route the baton will take during its 40 days in Scotland next June/July and how the public can nominate worthy Batonbearers who make a significant contribution to their local community.
“The baton’s journey through the country is the ideal opportunity to celebrate community sport and recognise those local athletes selected for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014. Get behind the Team and be part of the Games!”
Attending the event, Scottish Triathlete and World Junior Silver Medallist Marc Austin said: “I am really excited to be here today to see the Queen’s Baton and it makes me even more determined to be selected to compete for Scotland at Glasgow 2014.
“It will be a special moment when the baton visits my home city of Glasgow next year and I hope it will encourage everyone to get behind the Games and show their support for Team Scotland.”
Marc is a student at Stirling University, with TriathlonScotland also based on campus.
Later today, following events in Glasgow and at Glasgow International Airport the Queen’s Baton departs Scotland for Delhi – host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games – from where it will visit EVERY nation and territory of the Commonwealth.
Over 248 days and 190,000km the baton visit all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth and it will be the first baton ever to visit Rwanda. The international journey of the baton will be captured by global adventurer Mark Beaumont who will report for The One Show, BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Scotland, along with BBC News outlets, and online.
The baton will be relayed on its journey by Emirates, the Official Airline of the Queen’s Baton Relay and an official Partner of Glasgow 2014.
Her Majesty The Queen Launches Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton
Her Majesty The Queen launched the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay on its global journey today (Wednesday 9 October) in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace attended by some of Scotland’s greatest athletes, inspirational young people and senior representatives from across the Commonwealth.
The Queen placed Her message calling the athletes of the Commonwealth to next summer’s Games inside a baton specially crafted in Scotland which will now travel to the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth before being opened at the Opening Ceremony.
HRH Prince Imran, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Lord Smith, Chairman of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, took part in the ceremony, whilst sprint legend Allan Wells MBE, winner of two Commonwealth gold medals and the 100m Olympic title at the 1980 Olympic Games, was the first athlete to receive the baton, joined by honorary batonbearer Monica Dzonzi, UNICEF youth ambassador from Malawi.
They were then supported by further batonbearers from Team Scotland: Olympic swimmer and double Commonwealth gold medallist Caitlin McLatchey; Gymnast and Olympic bronze medallist Daniel Purvis; along with young athletes from the Glasgow School of Sport gymnast Cara Kennedy; triple jumper Morgan McKinnon and swimmer Ruairi Kirkwood.
Joining the athletes were Glasgow 2014’s first selected Games-time volunteer, known as Clyde-siders, Izzy Conway; Glasgow 2014 Tartan designer Aamir Mehmood; former Scotland’s Strongest Man Gregor Edmunds; passionate advocate for Para-Sport at Glasgow 2014 Julie McElroy; Glasgow 2014 Mascot designer Beth Gilmour and the Official Glasgow 2014 Mascot Clyde.
Seventy young people chosen by UNICEF UK, the world’s leading children’s organisation and international charity partner of the Games, carried flags from the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.
Crowds gathered outside the Palace as the celebrations began when Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic gold medallist, double Commonwealth champion and UNICEF UK ambassador, was the Baton’s special escort as it made the processional journey to the ceremony accompanied by the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards and Pipes and Drums 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (Royal Scots Borderers).
Senior representatives of Glasgow 2014 Games Partners including First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council also attended.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is the world’s most engaging relay, a special tradition of the Games that unites the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace.
It is a unique and dynamic opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland to connect with all of nations and territories of the Commonwealth, sharing the excitement and opportunities of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games as well as our culture, creativity and enterprise.
The baton returns to Scotland tomorrow where, in Stirling, the Scottish route and details of the recruitment of the 4,000 Scottish Batonbearers required will be revealed.
Later that day the baton will depart Scotland for Delhi – host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games – from where it will visit every nation and territory of the Commonwealth, before travelling the length and breadth of Scotland on the way to its final destination – the Opening Ceremony.
Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “The beginning of the Queen’s Baton Relay is a significant milestone ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games for athletes around the world.
“Team Scotland is proud to be the host CGA for the relay in Scotland, and I am delighted that six of our athletes have been able to take part in the ceremony today. Having Allan Wells as the first batonbearer is a great reminder of the last Scottish Games in 1986, while we have also seen our current generation and potential stars of the future running with the baton today.”
Olympic and Commonwealth legend Allan Wells, MBE said: “As the final runner of the Queen’s Baton Relay at the last Games on Scottish soil in Edinburgh in 1986, it has been a real honour for me to receive the baton from Her Majesty the Queen and to be the first Batonbearer for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
“To be involved in the ceremony at Buckingham Palace and to see the baton begin its journey is hugely exciting and I know that everyone who comes into contact with it over the next few months will be caught up in that excitement ahead of the Games.”
Batonbearer, Scottish gymnast and Olympic bronze medallist, Dan Purvis said: “The Queen’s Baton Relay is a huge part of the Commonwealth Games and it is an honour to have been one of the first people to run with it.
“The baton will travel round the world, and it is really exciting to think that when we see it again in Scotland we’ll be just 40 days away from the start of the Games. As it makes its way round the country I hope as many people as possible get the chance to see it, and I am sure it will inspire the nation to get behind Team Scotland.”
After directing all her highflying momentum towards the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, last week Jade Nimmo was revealed as one of the first athletes selected to represent Team Scotland.
“It is amazing to be selected! I found out through an email and I immediately tried ringing my Mum but I couldn’t get through to her because she is out of the country. So I went for a celebratory lunch with some friends. It’s such a relief to be selected this early.”
As the Scottish record holder for Long Jump, Jade is a prodigy of the Delhi 2010 Achieve  programme, an initiative that gave up-and-coming athletes the opportunity to experience the Games environment first hand. “I can’t believe Achieve was three years ago, it really was a once in a life time opportunity. It was so cool to fly out to India and look inside the village and look around the venues, see behind the scenes and speak to the athletes. It has prepared me for what sort of things to expect next year.”
She continued, “Actually in saying that, I still won’t fully know what to expect until it comes around. But I’m really enjoying the hype around it so far and I’m buzzing to hear the noise around Hamden Park.”
Sponsored by Search Consultancy, the Achieve programme will run again for Glasgow 2014- watch the Achieve 2014 promotional video starring Jade on the link below.
Aged 22 and living in Falkirk, Jade started her sporting life as a gymnast but soon swapped the bars for the track at the age of 14 when she was inspired by Kelly Holmes’ Olympic performances. The move from gymnastics to Long Jump was a smooth one, as Jade found the mix of her previous gymnastics training and skills and her naturally fast running ability, formed a nice combination when jumping into sand.
However, Jade does not spend all the day in the sandpit; she is enrolled at Edinburgh Napier University as a part-time student, to give a balance between studying and her training regime.
However, to reach this point Jade has not only committed to hours in the gym and on the track, she also sacrificed a Western Kentucky athletic scholarship: “I left Scotland to go and study in America but I made the decision to come back home. Out there the collegiate system is all about point scoring and I am fully focused on Glasgow 2014, so it was just not the right environment for me. It is a better training situation here.”
A few months back, during the sunny Scottish summer, Jade got the opportunity to rub shoulders with Scottish legend, Chris Hoy at the “One Year To Go” to Glasgow 2014 Ticketing Launch on Buchanan Street. Not only do they share the same birthday, they also share the same desire to win.
“This year I’ve been really consistent, I will go into a hard winters training and then I can hopefully repeat what I’ve done this year and put myself in medal contention, with gold being the ultimate aim.”
With team selection confirmed, it is now time to get down to some hard work and re-focus, if she is to realise her goal in Glasgow. Let’s hope Jade will be jumping for joy next July!
Achieve 2014 Promotional Video featuring Jade
You can follow Jade on Twitter @JadeNimmo
Photo Credit: Alister Devine