Glasgow 2014: Scots ready to show medal mettle

THIS evening at the city’s renowned Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the organising committee of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will mark 100 days until the opening ceremony by unveiling the gold, silver and bronze medals that will be distributed to the athletes who star at this summer’s Games.

Commonwealth Games medal prospect, weightlifter Peter Kirkbride

We asked six potential Team Scotland athletes to tell us how their preparations are going at this crucial juncture, what form they expect the medals to take and what it would mean for them to take one or more home from Scotland’s biggest-ever sporting event.

SCOTT FORREST (boxing)

What was the first medal you won?

Boxer Scott Forrest

“The first medal I won was the Scottish championships when I was 14.”

What medal represents your greatest achievement to date?

“My greatest medal has been the silver at the World Youth Championship in 2012.”

What is your favourite medal and why?

Scotlands rugby sevens captain Colin Gregor

“My favourite medal is the World Championship one because I was the first ever Scottish boxer to medal at the event.”

Where do you keep your medals?

“I have all my medals hanging up in my room on my wall.”

What would winning a medal at Glasgow 2014 mean to you?

“Winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games would be a dream come true. It is what I have been working for and put my life into.”

What do you think the Glasgow 2014 medals will look like, or what would you like them to look like?

“I don’t know what the medals will look like and I’m not too bothered. It is what the medal represents that matters.”

LIBBY CLEGG (athletics)

What was the first medal you won?

“It was in ballet. I can’t remember now when it was but I did ballet from the age of two to 12.”

What medal represents your greatest achievement to date?

“The 100m silver medal in front of the home crowd in London at the 2012 Paralympics, having broken the world record in my heat.”

Where do you keep your medals?

“No special place. They are usually in a bag as I take them to show to children on school visits.”

What would winning a medal at Glasgow 2014 mean to you?

“It would be amazing to stand on the podium in front of a home crowd and hear the national anthem play.”

What do you think the Glasgow 2014 medals will look like, or what would you like them to look like?

“I would like them to have a celtic design as I like Celtic jewellery!”

GRACE REID (diving)

What was the first medal you won?

“I won the 50m sprint in my P2 sports day.”

What medal represents your greatest achievement to date?

“Winning gold at the British National Championships on 3m springboard in 2013. I’d had a really hard time last year, so coming back and winning that medal was amazing. What it meant was more than the medal itself.”

What is your favourite medal and why?

“My favourite medal is from my first European Juniors when I got silver. It is massive and very heavy, so it’s really cool!”

Where do you keep your medals?

“Half of them are upstairs in the loft in a suitcase. My favourite ones are in my room.”

What would winning a medal at Glasgow 2014 mean to you?

“It would mean everything. All the hard work and all the training. It is what goes into the medal that matters most.”

What do you think the Glasgow 2014 medals will look like, or what would you like them to look like?

“Something Scottish and patriotic that reflects our good taste!”

MARC AUSTIN (triathlon)

What was the first medal you won?

“Probably a fun run in nursery at Victoria Park, and I still run there when I can!”

What medal represents your greatest achievement to date?

“My World Junior silver from last year.”

Where do you keep your medals?

“I just give them to my mum. I’m not really bothered about the medals to be honest, but she likes them.”

What would winning a medal at Glasgow 2014 mean to you?

“I’m not really sure, to be honest, I’m just thinking about getting there.”

What do you think the Glasgow 2014 medals will look like, or what would you like them to look like?

“I like the old-school medals, so hopefully something simple and not too fancy!”

COLIN GREGOR (rugby sevens)

What was the first medal you won?

“My first ever medal was a winners medal from a five-a-side football tournament at the Strathblane Gala Day when I was in Primary Five.”

What medal represents your greatest achievement to date?

“My greatest medal achievement to date was winning the Plate trophy at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai in 2009.”

What would winning a medal at Glasgow 2014 mean to you?

“It would undoubtedly be the highlight of my career.”

PETER KIRKBRIDE (weightlifting)

What was your first medal?

“My first trophy I won was in weightlifting and it was in 1999.”

What medal represents your greatest achievement to date?

“I have won the Kilmarnock Amateur Weightlifting Club (KAWLC) senior trophy nine times and it means the world to me because of the history it represents.”

Where do you keep your medals?

“I keep all my most memorable medals and trophies in my room and all my good silver presentation wear at my Papa’s house.”

What would winning a medal at Glasgow 2014 mean to you?

“It would mean that all the sacrifices and hard work and pain were worth it.”