It was a dream come true for Stephen Clegg as he stormed to an outstanding first Commonwealth Games gold in the S13 50m Freestyle on Tuesday evening, four days after taking silver in the 100m version of the event. Stephen’s brother James placed fifth in the same event – after returning to the sport to compete at the Games.
A further medal came as Duncan Scott anchored home a bronze medal winning Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay, after being set up by excellent legs from Matthew Ward, Angharad Evans and Keanna MacInnes. Dean Fearn, Joshua Mitchell, Lucy Grieve and Emma Wood also receive medals for their heat swims.
Clegg had expressed his dream of hearing Flower of Scotland play after his silver medal and this time he got to hear it. He said: “It was beautiful, music to my ears. As soon as they started playing it, I started shaking and I’m not an overly emotive person, but it was really difficult for me to compose myself in that moment. We went to take the pictures and I put my arms around Nick and Nathan, I just couldn’t compose myself. And to have a podium with those two guys is extraordinary for me. We had veterans and debut athletes on that podium, which is great to see.”
Reflecting on his whole Games experience, including his silver medal in the 100m Freestyle event, he said: “In the 100m, on the surface, the cynical me would say it was two seconds over my best. Medals and times are representative of the journey that you’ve been on, there’s a story behind every medal. I’m saying two seconds off my best, but I’m really proud of that result because I know how hard it was just to get there. I was racing in Eindhoven three weeks ago and I wanted to pull out of the Commonwealth Games as I was really not performing well. I was dreading racing and to be able to turn that around in a few weeks and to have some of the most fun races in my entire career is a huge win for me.
“That’s what I’m going to remember when I look at the silver medal is that sort of experience and not just the times. No one remembers what time the medals are won in, they just remember the colour of the medal.”
Katie Shanahan excited the Glasgow crowd with a scintillating 200m IM display to place 4th in a world class field.
Breaststroke duo Josh Mitchell and George Smith were in fine form with 6th and 7th place respectively in the 200m Breaststroke, with the former setting a new personal best.
Charlie Hutchison touched home in 7th place in the 400m IM, in his first Commonwealth final, while Anna Morgan took 6th in the 50m Breaststroke and Astrid Carroll 7th in the S13 100m Freestyle.
A stunning finale is set up in the pool on Wednesday as Scotland’s swimmers aim to end the Commonwealth Games on a high, and on the podium.
Fresh off of Mixed Medley Relay success, Matthew Ward, Duncan Scott, Keanna MacInnes and Angharad Evans are all in individual action, with aims to add to their medal collection. All will likely be involved in medley relays during the course the day as well.
With eight medals already secured, the team will have sights set on matching the total of 12 won in Birmingham.
