Having competed for Team Scotland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games at the age of 16, gymnast Daniel Keatings has gone on to win a number of senior honours at British, European and World Championship level. A serious injury ruled Dan out of the 2010 Games in Delhi, but following a successful comeback, he is focussed on securing a place in Team Scotland for Glasgow.

Dan says: “2006 was a great experience and the Commonwealth Games is a really key competition for me. Particularly this year, with the Games being at home it’s going to be one of the biggest competitions I will ever compete in, and to do well and win a medal would be right up there with my greatest achievements.

“The fans in Glasgow can have a real impact and the support can help you raise your game. I’ve put in some of my best performances in front of home crowds and hope I can do it again this year. With it being a home Games, you don’t just want to do well for yourself; you want to do well for the fans too.”

With final selections approaching, Dan and the other Scottish gymnasts are vying to secure a place on the team, with the next big competition coming this weekend in Liverpool – the British Championships.

“I feel like I’m going well at the moment, and I’ve been working hard on my routines”, Dan says. “This is my first year back in the All-Around and I’d really like to go clean and push for a medal. I’ll also be looking to get on the podium in the Pommel and the Parallel Bars.”

Dan, born in Kettering, is eligible to compete for Scotland through his dad who comes from Edinburgh. With a place in Scotland’s largest ever team at stake, Dan says the feeling within the Scottish Gymnastics camp is really positive.

Dan says: “I love competing for Scotland. There are a few times where we represent Scotland, but nothing quite as big as the Commonwealth Games. The feeling in the camp is awesome at the moment. There are lots of talented athletes and we realistically have eight to ten going for a spot on the team of five. The Games are going to be huge and I really can’t wait!”

You can follow Dan on Twitter @DanKeatings

Photo credit: Getty Images