OlympicHeraldSport Games London 2012 Wednesday, July 25, 2012 THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com  olympic games

overview There will be cheating, gamesmanship and corporate greed, but also sporting stories to inspire

T is the tune I remember, not the athletes. village, where athletes of all nations will join It was jangly but catchy and caught my together in a purpose that goes beyond gold attention in days when the height of medals. The very act of competing at the excitement was finding a toy in your Rice Olympics is the summit of many athletes’ Krispies and nicking the cream off the milk hopes and, indeed, abilities. Ibefore your dad managed to complete a One will witness it, too, in crowds across shave so rushed and bloody that nowadays the city of London and up into the national health and safety would have demanded a stadium of Hampden. People will watch the paramedic on permanent standby. action with varying degrees of fascination, It was 1964. I was nine. The world was in from the committed relative to the fan who black and white and tellies were adjusted suddenly finds himself or herself being by the simple expedient of banging a fist drawn into a drama that should hold only immediately adjacent to where the aerial sat. limited interest. This ability to grip and Good Morning Tokyo would draw me entice is no more obvious than when one away from the routine mano a mano with finds oneself an expert in all disciplines in one of my siblings and I would watch people the modern pentathlon, when one argues running, jumping, sliding, fighting, riding, over the tactics of the steeplechase and when swimming, falling, rowing, fencing, falling one finds that small bore can refer to one’s and winning. And, of course, losing. It was all disposition towards being tedious, rather communicated by frantic commentators in than the shooting competition. tones that should have been reserved for the The Olympics will throw up heroes and arrival of a meteorite into a communal bowl heroines. A personal hope is that Katherine of breakfast cereal. Grainger comes across the line first in the Sport for me then was, I suppose, football. double sculls after taking silver medals at Life for me then was, I suppose, football. three consecutive Olympics. But the theme tune of Good Morning Tokyo It will also create superstars. Will would draw me towards another world where Mo Farah gallop from the edge of the larger playtime meant more than blootering a ball public consciousness to the very centre of and sport involved spikes, swords, gloves or the mainstream? Will Usain Bolt streak to the even horses. heart of everybody’s memory of London 2012, It was my first exposure to the Olympics taking him from great fame to sporting and it left a mark that I would scratch every immortality in under 10 seconds? four years. It opened up a world that would Dozens of hitherto unremarkable figures shut gently with every closing ceremony. will be thrust into the spotlight and take both The Olympics made one an expert on a bow and a medal. And this is where the Dawn Fraser and the 100m freestyle (1964), Olympics will show their strength. This is an on Tommie Smith and Black Power (1968), event that has the ability to take the viewer on how sport could move away from awful beyond entertainment into something deeper, tragedy with obscene haste (1972), on how more personal. It is where one can throw off Memories are Scotland could produce extraordinary heroes, tribal loyalties and exult in the heady froth of David Wilkie (1976) and Allan Wells (1980). sport and the punch it can pack. As Olympics seem to come more quickly One knows that the cyclist is merely than every four years, the memories of Coe, spinning wheels, but he is also showing that Ovett, Hoy and Freeman collide with the excellence of technique and strength of Dream Team and decked Decker and barefoot purpose can bring rewards. One knows that made of this Budd. However, the echoes of that 1964 the swimmer is moving through water by a Olympics can still be heard the most loudly as series of kicks and arm rotations, but she is the child never forgets in the same way that also demonstrating that courage is most the ageing adult struggles to remember. powerful when it conquers fear and doubt. Tokyo seems far away now. The message One knows that the runner is only doing of the Olympics have become less clear, less what we must when we are late for the bus, coherent. It is no longer the acme of amateur but her movements are breathtakingly sport. It probably never was. smooth, her will is shining and unbreakable. Nowadays many competitors are It would be absurd to suggest the Olympics professional, many are millionaires. It is exist to make us morally better or spiritually sobering to note that one has been asked to stronger. But it would also be daft to dismiss register a sympathy vote for the exclusion of any notions that small moments in sport can a multi-millionaire from the Games. David and do have the ability to inspire and even Beckham, brand and footballer, stands far make us better in small, important ways. from the ethos of Baron de Coubertin and The winners will give lessons on technique, his ideas of playing for playing’s sake, about drive and dedication. But the losers also offer it all being about the taking part. one a peek into a more recognisable existence The Olympics, too, have become ever of trying doggedly and coming up short. more bloated and thus ever more greedy The winners will be cheered but there will be for cash and hype to sustain it. It groans solidarity too with the losers that might not under the weight of nonsensical rhetoric be spoken of too loudly but will be deeply felt. about its purity of purpose, its capacity for The Olympics offer moment upon creating good, its benefits for mankind. moment, day upon day, week upon week Olympic history is marked by racial of crude entertainment of higher, faster intolerance, cheating, misuse of drugs, and longer. But they provides more than mean-spiritedness and narrow chauvinism. a glimpse into the reality of life. The best In short, the Olympics are the human race will not always win, the sly or downright at play. This may be its handicap but it is its dishonest will occasionally prevail and there triumph, too. The old-time, simplistic notions will be disappointment for those who do not of everyone convening for a celebration of deserve it but are condemned to endure it. sport have been dispelled. But something of The man of 2012 knows this is how the substance remains. world works and how it can sink hopes in a There will be drug cheats at the Olympics. second and, even worse, raise them again to Some of them may even be caught. There face the same awful fate. But he remembers will be gamesmanship and some may tut at the boy of 1964 and how Good Morning Tokyo this though most will accept it wearily or brought a different world into a Scottish otherwise. There will be flag waving of the home and left more than just a residue of crassest type. There will be rows that suggest what the Olympics can offer. that the brotherhood of man is the most A jangly theme tune will be hummed on dysfunctional of families. the road to London 2012 by this observer. But the best of humanity will peek It will be a discordant tribute to the truth through, too. One will see it in the Olympic that the Olympics offer the unforgettable. heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25-august 12  and unite like no other, writes Hugh MacDonald

Clockwise from left: Tommie Smith and John Carlos deliver their Black Power salute in Mexico 1968; the Black September group storm the Olympic village in Munich 1972; Dawn Fraser wins 100m freestyle gold Dozens of hitherto in Tokyo 1964; David Wilkie makes a splash in 1976; and Allan Wells secures 100m gold in Moscow 1980. Pictures: Getty Images unremarkable figures }will be thrust into the spotlight and take both a bow and a medal. This is where the Olympics will show their strength THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com 4 olympic games

london 1948 Elenor McKay is the only female Scottish swimmer to win an individual medal and her

THLETES made their way books had to be handed in before the to the opening ceremony of the six-week journey to New Zealand. “Our 1948 Olympics through a city families should not benefit from extra food,” pockmarked with bomb craters. she explained. London was constrained by Now a 79-year-old grandmother, she A post-war austerity. Food parcels is invited to Friday’s opening ceremony, from around the globe helped British and has tickets for the final of the event in There was competitors whose families were then which she swam 64 years ago, and in which more strictly rationed than in wartime. she won Olympic bronze in 1952. Sadly, she The standard weekly allocation was one is in Hairmyres hospital with a hip problem ounce of bacon and ham per person; one and and does not expect to make it. She missed a half ounces of cheese; two ounces of tea; a date with Princess Anne last week, and seven ounces of butter and margarine, of a Lord Mayor’s reception in London, but uproar. They which no more than four ounces could be octogenarian contemporaries will require butter. And six eggs per month. However, Olympian stamina for the opening ceremony families of Olympic team members had their – making their own way home with an 80,000 } coupon allocation thoughtfully upgraded to crowd after 12.30am, at the conclusion of the match that of coal miners. five-hour spectacular. thought we were Clothing, building materials and petrol Her family paid 37.5 pence (seven shillings were also rationed, and no new sport facilities and sixpence in old money) per ticket to see were built. Crushed brick from bomb sites her swim in 1948. One could stand for 30 was used as the track surface, and laid a pence. “We have two tickets for the event in fortnight before the opening ceremony. which Elenor swam,” says her husband, Ken. showing too There was no athletes’ village. Wartime “They cost £295 each now.” RAF stations were used. Members of the swim team could not Empire food support included frozen legs believe it when they found the US team had of New Zealand lamb, honey, sugar and abandoned a picnic at the Exhibition Centre butter. “We’d never seen anything like it,” in 1948: whole cheeses, hams, sweets and much flesh recalled Elenor McKay, then Elenor Gordon, cookies. Some of the British team became the 15-year-old baby of the 1948 swimming scavengers. team. “I remember queuing for hours in The teenage Elenor was housed at a Hamilton after the war, and you were women-only RAF facility at Uxbridge, but restricted to four apples when you got to the Belgian and Dutch women billeted near head of the queue.” London’s red-light district reported being Even when Elenor was part of the 1950 pursued by would-be clients. Scottish team for the Empire Games, ration Elenor had her first taste of wine courtesy

london 1908 The remarkable life of Wyndham Halswelle, by Doug Gillon

HE Glasgow Herald of July 24, 1908 British Olympic Association sent an official impresario to stage a series of rematches –104 years ago yesterday – carried team was to the intercalated Olympics in with Carpenter, and a week after the Games a remarkable sports story, about a Athens, in 1906. They chose Halswelle for the he ran a valedictory race at Glasgow’s Ibrox Scot cheated of Olympic gold at the 100m, 400m, and 800m, a range of events no Park, and announced his retirement. He only first London Olympics. Quarter other GB athlete has since matched. ever ran again at his battalion sports. Tmiler Wyndham Halswelle was Paul Pilgrim had been involved in a similar While serving in France during World War blocked and denied victory in what remains incident there, with Halswelle finishing One, Halswelle wrote a graphic account of perhaps the single most dramatic race in second in the 400m, amid allegations of trench warfare at Neuve Chapelle for the Games history. The 400m ended in uproar ungentlemanly conduct. So judges were HLI regimental magazine. It appeared in the when judges disqualified the American posted round the track in London to guard same edition which reported his death, shot winner, and ordered a re-run. The two other against any repetition. Pilgrim also won the by a sniper, in 1915: “I called on the men to get finalists – also American – declined to take 800m in Athens, with Halswelle third. With over the parapet. There is great difficulty in part, so Halswelle became the only man to his controversial 400m victory in 1908, getting out of a trench, especially for small win Olympic gold in a walkover. It provoked a Halswelle thus became the only British men laden with a pack, rifle and perhaps 50 diplomatic incident and soured Anglo-US athlete to win individual gold, silver and rounds in the pouch, and a bandolier of 50 relations. bronze without recourse to a relay medal. rounds hung around them, and perhaps four Lieutenant Halswelle was the son of a His Scottish 440 yards That record has yet to be equalled far less feet of slippery clay perpendicular wall with noted watercolourist, Keeley Halswelle, surpassed. Though largely unsung, he is sandbags on the top. and his third wife, Helen Mariana Gordon, record survived the among Britain’s greatest sports heroes, later “I got about three men hit actually on top daughter of Major General Nathaniel }attentions of 1924 gold giving his life for his country. Young Scots of the parapet. I made a dash at the parapet Gordon, who lived near Glasgow. He was a run today for a trophy in his memory. and fell back. The Jocks then heaved me up decorated Boer War veteran when he lined up There are other dramatic statements of and I jumped into a ditch – an old trench filled against the US trio as favourite, having set an medal winner Eric Liddell his prodigy. His Scottish 440 yards record with liquid mud – which took me some time Olympic record of 48.4 in the semi-finals. of 48.4 secs survived the attentions of 1924 to get out of.” Lanes were not used in those days, Olympic champion Eric Liddell, the only His men gained 15 yards, a distance and John Carpenter (a second slower than Halswelle testified to the AAA inquiry that other British winner of Olympic 400m gold, Halswelle the athlete would have covered in Halswelle in his heat) of Cornell University Carpenter had kept his right arm across his and was surpassed only in 1958, by John under two seconds. They dug in for several ran progressively wider in the home straight, body. “In this manner he bored me across McIsaac. His UK 440 record lasted until 1934, hours before retreating to where they’d forcing his rival to the edge of the track. quite two thirds of the track and entirely broken by Godfrey Rampling (father of started. They had lost 79 men. The worsted tape was immediately broken stopped my running.” actress Charlotte) who was part of the GB Days later Captain Halswelle was dead, and the event declared “no race”. In the re-run next day he went round solo, Olympic 4 x 400m gold-medal quartet at the at 32. His grave was marked with a wooden “Halswelle was the victim of very similar in 50 seconds flat. The track was rigged with 1936 Berlin Olympics. And the Scottish 300 cross, with his name scrawled in charcoal. tactics in Athens,” The Herald reported, strings – origin of sprints now being in lanes. yards record which Halswelle set in 1908 In China 30 years on, in a wartime Japanese “and to prevent anything of that kind on Under US rules, there was nothing to lasted until 1961, when it was beaten by internment camp, Scotland’s next Olympic this occasion, officials had been placed at prevent a man in the lead from blocking, and Menzies Campbell, the future Lib-Dem leader. 400m champion, Liddell, was buried in a the bends. They signalled a foul, and the the Americans said they had been “rooked, In 1906, Halswelle swept the Scottish titles grave with a similar wooden cross, his finish judge [a Scot] broke the tape before bilked, cheated, swindled and robbed”. at 100, 220, 440 and 880 yards in a single name marked in boot polish. Both were Carpenter reached it.” Yet the rules in the official programme made afternoon at Powderhall, a haul which has subsequently reinterred. But Halswelle’s It took more than an hour before Carpenter it clear that conduct such as Carpenter’s also never been equalled. But the Olympic grave, at Laventie, near Armentieres, bears was officially disqualified. US media would bring immediate disqualification. experience soured his love of the sport. He no mention of his athletics feats. In 2006, described Halswelle as “idol of the British The implication, though, was Halswelle had taken considerable persuasion, playing his great nephew and namesake, Wyndham aristocracy” and “favourite toff of the was an unworthy champion. Nothing could to his patriotism, to contest the Olympic Halswelle, accepted his forebear’s induction Cockney crowd”. be further from the truth. The first time the final. He rejected overtures from a US into the Scottish athletics hall of fame. heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25-august 12  memories of the Austerity Games are equally valuable, writes Doug Gillon

of the French team. She marvels at the There were 355 female competitors in 1948, Elenor McKay, freebies for modern Olympians. “We were just 8.7% of the total. This year there is a below, with her lucky if we received an extra swimsuit,” she near-equal gender split among some 10,500 bronze medal from said, but recalled a Jantzen costume, plus competitors. UK Sport has ploughed in £313m the 1952 Olympics three slips to be worn underneath, preserving in the past four years, funding professional and, left, at the modesty. The girls rebelled – the advent of coaches, scientific and medical experts, and peak of a glittering Britain’s moral decline! bankrolling competitors. competitive career. There were dresses and blazers for the GB Gavin, coach and pond master at Hamilton Pictures: Newsquest/ women – hems a regimented 14 inches from baths, taught his daughter to swim in the Colin Mearns the ground, and a white beret. Shoes were not 25-yard pool. She had never seen an indoor supplied but Liz Church, daughter of a shoe 50-metre pool before the Games. Scotland did company owner, was in Elenor’s event, and not possess one. Male and female swimmers her father provided slingback sandals. were segregated. Men got 90% of pool time Athletes heading for the opening ceremony with women allowed only 20 minutes at a by underground were invited by the public to time. Only after 1948 was she allowed proper stretch out and relax. “We didn’t want to get training access. Swimmers were strictly our uniforms dirty,” recalled Elenor, “so we amateur. Her mum took in washing from carried them in paper bags, but there was the police at their room-and-kitchen home nowhere to change. We climbed into the back to make ends meet. Dad was regarded as a of an old army lorry, where we changed into professional – an outcast who had to pay to our dresses, blazers, and berets. What a spectate at galas, with no input. luxury! I had never seen nylons before and Elenor is the only Scottish female barely knew how to put them on.” swimmer to have won an individual Olympic She posed with the swim team, poolside, medal. She won three Commonwealth golds, dangling legs in the water. “There was uproar five British titles, and captained the GB team. at the photograph,” she recalled. “They Her husband won 168 Scottish masters titles, thought we were showing too much flesh.” 40 British, and five world, setting 10 world The 1948 swim trials were at an outdoor records in the sport. pool in Scarbrough. Sea waves broke over into The couple are about to move house. the pool, and seats floated in the water. The An exhibition of their memorabilia is to trials were rescheduled, but traffic was a be held in Hamilton, but some of Elenor’s – nightmare. Elenor would have missed the including Olympic blazers, that provocative trial and the Olympics had her father, Gavin, 1948 Jantzen costume and unworn slips – not flagged down a motorist. was auctioned yesterday by Graham Budd & The total cost of London 1948 was £600,000, Sotheby’s. “We will put the money towards against £10bn now. It made a profit of £10,000. curtains and carpets,” said Ken. THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com  olympic games

swimming After waiting a year to confirm his place alongside fiancee Keri-Anne Payne, David Carry tells

David Carry will compete in the 400m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay in London. Picture: SNS

AV ID CArry knows the Olympic describes as “the calm before the storm”. That will mean missing out on the opening swimmers will face with 17,000 fans packing waiting game better than most. By the time you read this he will be safely ceremony, but he professes not to be too into the Olympic Park Aquatics Centre. While his fiancee and fellow ensconced in the Olympic Village for what he bothered. “I will be tucked up in bed while Carry has worked closely with a psychologist swimmer Keri-Anne Payne was calls “very much the final countdown”. all the fireworks are going off,” he says. on managing expectations and coping with the first Team GB member to This will be Carry’s third successive “It’s something as swimmers we have to deal performing on such a massive stage. Dsecure her place in the squad, Games and, at the grand old age of 30, has the with being in the first half of the programme. “The more you can prepare in anything the Carry was among the last, almost a year dubious honour of being the oldest member There will be plenty of time once we are higher the likelihood of success,” he says. passing between their respective selections. of the swimming team. “I can’t believe it’s finished competing to lap up the incredible “Having that psychological element is so “That was hard,” he says. “Both of us were come around so fast,” he says, laughing. festival of the Olympics.” important because it gives you the ability to being asked: ‘you are going to the Olympics... “I don’t feel like I’m 30. Being the most senior He is reticent to be drawn on discussing his have a dress rehearsal, to go through it all what’s it going to be like?’ and, at the time, member I have had huge questions asked of biggest rivals in London. “There’s so many beforehand, so we know we are going to do I hadn’t been selected. It was almost exactly a me: ‘What’s it going to be like? What does it people across a range of countries, I couldn’t and all of those little decisions are already year between Keri-Anne and I being selected. feel like to compete at the Olympics? What even pick out one person who is going to be made for us. That makes our performances Until I finally did that swim last month there kind of things I need to look out for?’ and head and shoulders above the rest,” he says, on the day all the easier.” was an element of pressure there. It was such I have enjoyed that almost mentor-like role.” carefully. “ Certainly in the 400m freestyle Competing at a home Olympics is a a relief when I touched the wall and realised He talks warmly about the camaraderie there are 10 or 12 guys who are similar. The prospect he relishes. “Just the thought I was part of the team. It’s been so exciting among the squad, not least his five fellow exciting thing for me is that I’m one of them. of swimming in front of 17,000 people all ever since.” Scots. “One of the great things is that we are “Without trying to dodge the question too cheering and shouting, getting excited by Aberdeen-born Carry is one of six Scots in incredibly close. We all know what each of much, it’s certainly going to be an incredible sport, does give me goosebumps.” Not to the 44-strong Team GB swimming squad us have gone through to make this team. To experience. In my sport, I can’t effect what forget the millions watching around the alongside robbie renwick, Hannah Miley, compete at the level we do is a huge sacrifice, someone else is doing and so will be focusing world? “Oh yeah, pile on the pressure why Michael Jamieson, Caitlin McClatchey and but it is one we have all made. Even though purely on my own individual performance. don’t you,” he replies, laughing. Craig Benson. Prior to heading to a holding it’s individual athletes competing, there is a If I put together that perfect race, which The way Carry sees it things can go one of camp in Edinburgh last week, two-time strong team element there.” I hope I will and certainly think I’m ready to two ways. “Either you get this huge lift that is Commonwealth Games gold medallist Carry Carry will compete in the 400m freestyle do, it will be exciting to see where I end up.” almost like surfing where you are on a wave joined other team members in Torremolinos, and 4x200m freestyle relay, his campaign He’s back on steadier ground talking of excitement, adrenalin and the noise of the Spain, for some final preparations which he getting underway on day one of the Games. about the pressure cooker atmosphere the crowd. Or the other thing that can happen is heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25-august 12 

Susan Swarbrick how he is preparing for the two biggest days of his life Pragmatic Miley just enjoying the journey

s she prepares for her second Olympic Games it is a very different Hannah Miley who will take to the pool from the wide-eyed teenager Awho competed in Beijing four years ago, writes Kevin Ferrie. Then she was a protege who was simply excited to be there. This time around in London the 23-year-old is very much in the medal hunt. Yet, when asked whether there is more pressure from feeling awestruck or being among the favourites, Miley said: “It’s a bit of both. It depends on how you perceive it. I’ve matured a lot and picked up a lot more experience and I’ve had a lot of help in terms of sports psychology from British swimming and scottish swimming, so that helps by letting you concentrate on the fact that you can only control what you can do. It’s just about redirecting your thinking into positives and ensuring you don’t stress yourself out.” Miley’s preparation for her first big opportunity on the international stage, at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, was almost wrecked when she contracted pneumonia six weeks ahead of the event – but she still came fourth in the 400m individual medley (IM), and sixth in the 200m IM. And, where other Olympic competitors may seem to be paying little more than lip service to the espoused values of the Games, Miley is completely credible when she claims: “The one thing I really do believe in is the values that the Olympics stand for – Prolonged respect, friendship and the other one … excellence. They really do help in later life once you’ve finished. You have to be able to see the bigger picture of it all. It’s taken me a long time to learn that, to realise it’s not just about the race, it’s not just about who touches engagement the wall first, it’s about the journey, the experiences you have and the choices that you make. You’ve just got to enjoy it.” What was particularly charming about those observations was that the one ideal she stumbled over – excellence – was that which that wave, the expectation and pressure, much as she has alongside an incredible would first spring to the minds of most can come over the top of you and crush you. amount of training. It’s an awesome sight. theknowledge competitors. But it would be a huge mistake I have experienced both of those feelings and “It has been a good distraction for her, too. to think that this woman will not be giving I’m absolutely sure that I’m going to be riding Last time she organised a charity ball just DaviD carry everything to win, and to that end there may on the crest of that wave.” before the Olympics, so I thought: ‘What age 31 Birthplace Aberdeen even be an edge to be gained from the fact Carry comes from a sporty background: better than a wedding to organise before the Form Specialising in the freestyle and medley, Carry that she knows she will not be broken should his father Peter was a British champion biggest swim of our lives? For both of us it has represented Team GB at the last two Games. On she fail to achieve her goals. skier, while his mother Jean was a county has given us the perspective that life will go both occasions he swam in the 4x200m freestyle “That really does take away some of the champion in table tennis. “We were quite a on regardless of what we do at the Olympics; relay and also featured in the 400m freestyle medal pressure because everybody else competitive family whether it was board the wedding is far more important for our event in Beijing. Having been part of the expects it to be all about medals when games or sport,” he admits. “My brother lives than the Games themselves.” 4x200m team that swam a British record really it’s a much broader picture,” she Angus was always so much better at football Being able to go through the Olympic time in the 2009 World Championships, said. “If I can come away with that it will and golf, so that taught me how to lose experience together, he says, has made it all Carry is a man for the big occasion. be a huge achievement, but I can only gracefully and kept my feet planted on the the more special. “It’s been a huge thing for give what I can give at the end of the ground. My brother always tells people us,” says Carry. “Luckily we never seemed to HannaH Miley day, which is my best. And if that’s he got a gold medal at the scottish schools have a bad training session at the same time age 22 Birthplace Swindon good enough to win a medal then swimming competition before I did in a relay so one of us was always able to pick the other Form Participated in her first great, but it might only be event. He likes to make the most of that one.” up again. Keri-Anne is one of these people Games in Beijing four years ago. good enough for fifth and that This is big year for Carry in more ways who is not only consistent in the pool, but After placing ninth and 11th in the should not be seen as a failure. than one. He and world 10km open water emotionally as well; she is level-headed and 4x100m freestyle relay and 200m “It’s really key we show the champion Payne will marry in september I have really benefited from that. Hopefully, individual medley respectively, Miley public that it’s about giving and the couple have been busy planning their I have given her quite a lot of support as well. recorded her best finish in the 400m your best and if you don’t wedding. “We have set the date, we have the “We both know the next few months IM, where finished sixth. At the British win a medal not to be down venue and it’s pretty much all sorted,” says are going to be awesome. Regardless of Championships in March she won about it but to learn from it Carry. “Keri-Anne is very much the wedding what happens at the Olympics we have that gold in the 200m and 400m IM, and improve on it. If you organiser. she loves that whole side of things. wedding to look forward to – it’s a special as well as the 200m breaststroke. hold a grudge on anything It’s unbelievable she has been able to do as moment for both of us.” it doesn’t do you good.” THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com  olympic games

athletics They might be at opposite ends of their career but two Scottish hopefuls explain to

She had a headache, swollen glands, bloodshot eyes, raw throat and blocked Injury woe is no nose and sinuses. She felt she looked like Quasimodo and tried countless remedies: zinc and vitamin C, an onion by the bed and in her socks, gargles of bicarbonate and mouthwash. She left the decision to the last minute, and won. “But you see, any time barrier to success I feel I get a little good luck, I get hit by bad luck. So I don’t let myself get too excited. And that includes the Olympics. I hope I have some good luck up to the Games.” Every step she runs, expectation for determined hangs on her shoulder. It’s inevitable when her mum was double Commonwealth gold medallist, world champion and Olympic medallist. Is that baggage McColgan difficult? “I don’t notice it now,” she says. “I did when I was younger – everybody expecting you to win. They forget you ILISH McCOLGAN hardly even to jog. I started with have to train pretty hard to be dares think about the Olympics, 30 seconds on, walking, successful. As I got older, even though she is making her 30 seconds off, for only I noticed it less. Perhaps Games debut in the steeplechase. about three minutes. because we do different Every time she takes pleasure in That’s all I could do. Not events. She sets my day- E anticipation, fate conspires to even a mile. I was really upset to-day training and does wound her. So on the run-in to London and and depressed. I went from all my coaching. She did her heat on August 4 she is cocooning herself being really fit to training extremely high mileage. in cotton wool and planning for 2014. “I am in the pool and limping I’m on about half what she not superstitious,” she insists. “I just know around on crutches. was at my age. I’d be worried if anything can happen. Everyone asks if I’m “I finally got in some I was doing the same mileage as excited about the Olympics, and I say I can’t consistent training with mum she did, and not running as fast. wait, but a lot can change in three weeks.” and our group at Vilamoura in February. “My low blood and the foot have not History teaches harsh lessons. She showed At that point I’d no intention of doing any given me the chance but next year we will great promise at 13, winning the British steeplechases. The foot was so stiff, I knew up it and there’ll be a massive improvement. cross-country title, but as she grew, she was I would struggle to land on it. I was just happy I’m doing about half the milage compared to plagued by knee problems. Then a fast-food to be back running and thought I might get other girls in the ‘chase. In Beijing, 9min habit mugged her. Iron levels were so low a couple of races late this year. The last week 29sec was the last person through to the that she needed blood transfusions. “Doctors in Portugal I tried a couple of hurdles and final, so I could scrape through. That’s my could not believe I was training twice a day. decided to change my lead leg. That’s what aim, and to record a good time. I was constantly tired.” She did not race for has allowed me to go back to the ’chase. I’d no “It’s great Lynsey Sharp is in the team, too. more than a year, and the rumour-mill cruelly option but to stop landing on the left. I avoid It’s a bit scary with people like Jessica Ennis suggested she was blood-doping. jumping on it completely and in my general and Dwain Chambers, whom I’ve only seen It was a long road back, but a stubborn daily life I’m very cautious.” on TV. To have Lynsey, whom I have been in streak runs in the family. Restored to her best Her father, Peter, a former international teams with since we were 13, makes it a lot last year, she seemed destined to represent steeplechaser, had always said the other leg easier. We have shared a room on every team Britain at the World Championships, 20 years was stronger. “He would get a little fence on from Scottish Schools to the European under- after her mum, Liz, had won gold, and to do so the beach at Carnoustie and get me used to 23s. I’ve never been at a championships that at an earlier age. But it was not to be. Eilish the feeling of pushing off. It’s good to have Lynsey has not been at. It’s good to have was inside the steeplechase qualifying mark someone who knows the specifics of the someone I can hang out with, go to lunch, at Crystal Palace until her left foot almost event. But the switch was difficult. You’re and not be on my own. If she hadn’t made it, came apart in the water jump. It evoked so used to leading with one leg – the one you it would have been the first one we have not her mother’s toe injury and reconstructive instinctively jump a wall with, or kick a ball done together.” surgery that curtailed her elite career. with. I was out of my comfort zone.” The 10k, at which Liz made her name, is a “I snapped the bone, displacing it, and when Having regained confidence, she was given long way off. “I really enjoy the chase, and I kept running, I damaged the bones round a run in Oslo and a chance to achieve the will focus on it for the next few years,” says about,” explains Eilish, “I had five screws and world qualifying mark, but again no chance Eilish. “I feel I can get down to 9.10 in the next a metal plate put in.” to savour the moment. “Just five days before, two years and do the steeple on home soil in End of world aspirations. “As soon as I clattered my knee into a hurdle and couldn’t Glasgow. If I keep fit and healthy, there is a it happened, I thought that was it for the train. My one opportunity for a good time, definite medal chance in 2014.” Olympics as well. The bone didn’t heal as and I thought I’d ruined it. Yet I ran a pb, a Eilish lives with her boyfriend, a few expected and I was non weight-bearing for Scottish record and the Olympic qualifying.” metres from her mum in the grounds of the 12 weeks instead of eight. I didn’t think However, she still had to win the trial family sports club. She works in a running I’d a chance of running at all this summer. to be certain. “Everything looked on course. shop, having split the third year of a maths At Christmas I was really struggling. The I ran personal bests in all my sessions, but and accountancy degree. She is prepared to foot was sore and I’d to get used to it being a then came down with a virus, a week before juggle education further to accommodate her different shape after the surgery. I struggled the most crucial race of the year.” 2014 dream.

theknowledge

Lynsey sharp eiLidh chiLd eiLish MccoLgan eilish Lee McconneLL age 22 Born Edinburgh age 25 Born Perth age 21 Born Dundee Mccolgan age 33 Born Glasgow The form The 800m runner has survived a The form The 400m hurdler sprang The form Specialises in the has been The form Will take part in the 400m and bitter selection row to earn a place and will to prominence with a silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase, and has a bedevilled by 4x400m relay in her third Games looking be the only Team GB representative in her Commonwealth Games two years ago lot to live up to with 10,000m bad luck but to win the one medal that has eluded her event. Sharp claimed silver at the European and is another for whom a final place in Olympic silver medallist and is hoping her in a glittering career. With two European Championships earlier this year, posting a London could be considered a success. world champion Liz McColgan fortunes are bronze, a European indoor silver and bronze, time of 2:00.52 in Helsinki just weeks after Ran a Scottish record of 54.96 in June to as a mother. Qualified after about to Commonwealth silver and bronze and winning the British trials and, while further achieve the A qualifying standard then posting a time of 9:56.90 to change. two world bronze among her collection medal success might be a long shot, her form finished second to Perri-Shakes Drayton win the British trials and is picture: she certainly has the pedigree to medal in means nothing should be ruled out. in the GB trials last month. aiming for a place in the final. getty images what will be her final Olympic appearance. heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25 - august 12 

Doug Gillon how adversity is fuelling their London ambitions

Her last olympics, in Beijing, Retirement talk ‘distracting’ however, were “devastating”, tearing her quadriceps just two days before the opening round of the 400m. That she made it to the McConnell from task at hand semi-finals was remarkable. McConnell met her future husband in a Glasgow nightclub and explains hastily that it was EE McConnEll to be around for 2014. We will see surprising, because training has at a hen night she’d organised as is heading for london to how the body fares. The mind still gone well, but I’ve had time to bridesmaid of hammer thrower become Scotland’s most wants to do it, but it’s whether the train and improve between the Katie Horne. “Planning the prolific athletics olympian, body can continue. I definitely feel Europeans and olympics. I just wedding has been good – something L tying the three appearances I still have the motivation, and if want to do myself justice, however to distract me when I choose. I have by liz McColgan. I get encouragement from london, far that takes me.” never been the kind of person to feel The Glasgow 400 metres runner that would help. I love the sport, Three times British 400m completely happy, submerged in is about to swap tracksuit for and have done since I was a child. champion, she has won European athletics, living and breathing it. trousseau, with her wedding to an I’d love to continue in Glasgow. The bronze (400m 2002, and 4x400m, It’s a lifestyle choice I’ve made to be investment manager arranged for Commonwealth Games right on our 2010); European Indoor silver and an athlete, but sometimes you need early november. She says this will doorstep will be something special. bronze (4x400m, 2011 and 2005); that little bit of escapism to stop definitely be her last olympics, but “There’s no decision yet. Commonwealth games silver (400m, you going completely crazy.” as the pre-echo of a career obituary Everything is focused towards 2002), bronze (400m hurdles, 2006); Her individual 400m place, she enters the conversation, she warns: london. We will see how we go from and world bronze from the relay in says, gives her a chance to fight for “I’m not necessarily retiring.” there; hopefully it will give me 2005 and 2007. Indeed, an olympic a relay spot. “People are showing A fourth Commonwealth Games encouragement to go on. If it medal is the only one missing. really good form, so making the looms in Glasgow. She declines to doesn’t, I don’t know, but it is so “It would be nice to complete the relay will be hard. I must perform opt in, or out, but is keen to depart hard to give up something you love. set,” she said, “It’s not something well enough to justify my place.” on her own terms and not have I very much hope that the best run I lose sleep over, but in front of a Despite flirtations with the retirement dictated by injury. of my career is still in front of me. home crowd, it would be fantastic. high jump and 400m hurdles, she She is attempting to focus on I think if I did not believe that, I’d “It’s hard to describe how much harbours no regrets. “I would not the Games and does not wish already have given up. What’s the it means for an athlete to compete want to be looking back, wondering attentions deflected. She finds our point of continuing if you don’t in the olympics,” she adds, with Lee McConnell what might have been. The only conversation “a little distracting think you can improve? a catch of emotion in the voice. will compete in a regret is the body not holding up in and negative, when I am so focused “My form this year has been “I have been lucky to have such third Games. the hurdles. I really think that could on london. This is definitely my disappointing. I’ve not been happy a good career, making every Picture: SNS have been my event. Unfortunately, last olympics, but it would be great with my races and times. It’s championship team since 2001.” my back did not allow it.” THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com 10 olympic games

canoe slalom Notable double triumph beckons for David Florence, writes Alasdair Reid

ype his name into Google and most novices, he started in kayaks, but as his shoot-out between the last few contenders, Hochshorner of Slovakia, a feat that installed the chances are that you’ll soon canoe club had some C1s lying around, he there is huge pressure on Florence. Assuming the duo as favourites for gold this year. become an expert on a certain thought he would give them a try. he gets through the preliminaries, four years Remarkably, Florence grew up on statue by Michelangelo that can be “I really enjoyed the C1,” he recalls. of intense training will come down to just the same edinburgh street as Sir Chris Hoy, found in a certain city in Tuscany, “Somehow, it just seemed to suit me better. I one run down the course at Lea Valley in although he has plenty of other reasons Tbut David Florence might soon be seemed to be quite a natural at it so I decided Hertfordshire. A notable triumph beckons, to want to match Hoy’s achievement in lighting up search engines in his own right. to ditch the kayak and concentrate on the C1. but disaster is never far away. becoming a multi-medallist. Like his fellow Four years ago, the Aberdeen-born, “It probably is more technical than the But the prospect doesn’t faze him. Scot, he also relishes the chance to move to edinburgh-raised canoeist collected one of kayak, but there are certain advantages in “It is an accepted part of the sport,” is his discipline to sport’s centre stage and will Britain’s less expected medals when he took the C1. Because you’re kneeling you don’t Florence’s nonchalant assessment. “yes, also savour the chance to rub shoulders with silver in the C1 slalom class at the Beijing have your legs out in front of you so there’s a tiny error can make a huge difference, but athletes from all the disciplines. Olympics. Since then, however, he has no weight at the front. And because of that on race day I’ll just prepare as best I can and “I really enjoy being part of a team that become one of the dominant figures in his it’s much easier to work with the bow over make decisions on how I’m going to attempt involves a lot of other sports,” he says. “It’s sport and is now the short-odds favourite to waves and make other moves. It’s easier to each gate and each move. exciting and it’s something that you don’t upgrade that 2008 medal to gold in London initiate turns and spin it around.” “I’ll try to stay in the moment when I’m on often get the chance to do. It’s nice to be part this year. Just like that. But Florence’s sport is also my run and focus on the stroke, the gate and of a greater Olympic team. But first, a point of clarification. Although a kind of high-wire act, because even the where I need to put my boat next. It will all “Four years ago we were at the same venue Florence’s craft has a deck and although his slightest error can be horribly costly. Clip one just be about focusing on the process of what as the rowing team. The canoe slalom team event takes place in foaming white water, of the slalom poles and you pick up a penalty I’m doing and taking one step at a time.” was three of us, and the rowing team was it is a canoe rather than a kayak. The that could, and often does, prove crucial. Most of Florence’s rivals come from east/ goodness knows how many. But it was great defining features of a canoe – hence the C1 Capsize your boat and it’s Goodnight Irene – central europe – Slovakia has been the fun to meet other athletes. They came and designation – are that its occupant kneels, and goodbye to any chance of a medal as well. sport’s powerhouse for the past 12 years – but supported us and we supported them at their rather than sits, in the boat and that it is And as the closing stages of this year’s C1 the Scot has ambitions beyond gold in the races. They were a really nice bunch of people propelled by a single-bladed paddle. competition will, effectively, be a straight individual event. Boldly, he has also teamed and it was great to be close to them.” So far, so straightforward. But to up with Londoner Richard Hounslow, in the Florence will turn 30 during the Games, watch Florence at work is to witness an hope of clinching victory in the two-man C2 but he is not ready to retire from his sport astonishing level of dexterity and technical theknowledge as well. Traditionally, competitors have and may well start aiming for Brazil 2016. accomplishment. While the water foams concentrated on one event or the other, eventually, though, the man whose around him, he insinuates his tiny canoe david florence but Florence’s decision to go for both is a ambitions to be an astronaut were thwarted – through narrow gates, some of which have to age 29 Birthplace Edinburgh measure of how confident he feels. he failed to be selected for the european be negotiated backwards, driven along by an The form Claimed C1 silver in Beijing four years ago And with good reason. Only a few weeks Space Agency’s training programme – implement that most punters would probably and was a member of the C2 team that won bronze ago Florence became the first man to win will have to join up with the real world. mistake for a snow shovel. The process is akin in the 2011 World Championships and gold at the gold medals in both C1 and C2 at a canoe “It would be nice to do something else for a to trying to thread a needle while sitting European Championships earlier this year. Currently slalom World Cup competition when, at the while because I wouldn’t want to go straight inside a washing machine on its spin cycle. ranked world No.1 in the C1 category, Florence has Wales leg of the international series, he back in as a coach as some athletes do,” says Florence was 14 before he took to the water, an excellent chance of upgrading that Beijing silver backed up his victory in the individual event the mathematics graduate. “I haven’t really a late age for someone whose father George to gold and is in pole position to add another when by partnering Hounslow to victory in the used my degree and I think I would enjoy was a Scottish champion in the sport and he competes with Richard Hounslow in the C2. pairs. In the process, they beat reigning doing something that would challenge me whose uncle was also a top competitor. Like Olympic champions pavol and peter in a similar way.”

paddle power heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25-august 12 11

rowing Wealth of experience is propelling Katherine Grainger towards gold, writes Hugh MacDonald

Katherine Grainger, front, got her first taste of rowing while Finding at university has become a multiplpe world champion. strength Picture: Getty Images on troubled waters

HE pool of strength to be Grainger now looks to what “Your whole life is built round it. But always going to go well. Unless you the best has a variety of she describes as “the top of the I have always wanted to do something theknowledge have a strong bond underpinning tributaries. Katherine mountain”. She is clear-sighted on to stand alongside it. It is trying to everything, then the relationship Grainger will sit in a what will take her there. create a balance. Rowing is always Katherine GrainGer can withstand the pressure.” double scull in a stretch “My experience has resonance the bigger part, and it needs to be in age 36 Birthplace Glasgow So what does Grainger bring to the Tof water 25 miles west the form in that I do put a lot of value on it,” Olympic year, but I wanted to turn Her talents in the partnership? “I am very level-headed. of London next month. The boat she says. “I put value on the fact that my energy to something else.” double scull have led to a gold When it comes to racing I have an will also contain Anna Watkins, I have been to three previous Games Her dedication is unquestioned but medal in the 201o World intensity, a drive and passion for it. her fellow traveller, in a series of and that I have sat on Olympic start she is aware that her sport has made Championships at lake Karapiro Away from racing, I enjoy what I do journeys over 2000 metres. The lines. There has been a range of demands on her. “It is relentless. It is and again in Blen a year later, and I am quite comfortable, I can take surges to a point in the distance emotions from utter joy to deep challenging mentally because it is but her Olympic success has things in my stride. But when it will exhaust both mentally and disappointment but all those results repetitive and you are trying to get come in other disciplines; the comes to racing I can switch gears physically. Grainger knows she will make you the athlete you are today. perfection.” women’s quad – silver in Beijing and become a racing animal. I am find the strength. This is a journey I am more aware that where I am However, she takes strength from and Sydney – and the coxless quite an instinctual person.” she has made so many times. today is a result of where I have what the sport has given her, and that pair – silver in Athens eight Grainger does not seek to She has won silver medals in three been before.” goes far beyond medals and fame. years ago. underplay the importance of the successive Olympic Games. At 36, she Grainger’s power of thought is “I slightly got dragged into it a bit The Scot has also taken world Olympics in any sort of misguided has been made, not broken, by her obvious. Her introduction to rowing reluctantly,” she says. “The biggest silver in the single scull in 2009 attempt to reduce the pressure. experience. “I am stronger because of came when she was a law student at plus for me is that on the whole way and gold in the women’s quad “It means everything,” she says of it,” she says. The reality of Grainger Edinburgh University 19 years ago. along I have met unbelievable people. two years earlier in Munich, London 2012. “We train in four-year as a multiple world champion has As she has bent her back in a variety There has been a great sense of defending the title she had held cycles. You plan everything been overshadowed by the second of events and boats, she has also gone camaraderie.” for two years – first winning the to culminate in the Olympic places in Sydney, Athens and Beijing. on to achieve an MPhil in medical law That togetherness will be tested event in Gifu in 2005. In 2003 competition. You train for the She notes without bombast: “I am and medical ethics from Glasgow at the very highest level when she she took world gold in the Olympic games, whether it is very proud of what I have done and University, and is now studying and Anne Watkins clamber into the coxless pair. four years out, or one year out.” I have achieved more than I would homicide for a PhD at King’s College, boat on the waters of Eton Dorney. Grainger was appointed MBE She will be 40 by the time the ever have thought. I would not wish University of London. Their destiny is in the hands of in 2006 for services to rowing, torch arrives in Rio de Janeiro in massive disappointment on anyone, “I have always very much wanted each other. It is a strong bond and and her Olympic achievements 2016. Is the finishing line in sight? but when you have that level of to do something that is different one that must withstand the rigours make her the first female British “I am not thinking about London disappointment – no matter what from rowing in my studies,” she says. of intense practice and the demands athlete – in any sport – to medal being my last Olympics. I am focused your job – and you come through it “I find people very interesting. How of being the best. at three consecutive Games. on a day-to-day basis. I am more then you cannot help but be stronger people react at the extreme end of The pair won the world concerned about how the boat was and better for it. human behaviour is fascinating.” championships in Bled, Slovenia, last this morning rather than the future. “It might not be pleasant at that This outlet is crucial for Grainger year but the priority is Olympic gold. I am more stimulated about being time, it might not be pleasant to look because rowing consumes so much “We have been open from the part of a home team with the back on it, but it is a sign of that of her life. She talks about it as a 24/7 beginning,” she says of the potential to win medals. This an survival instinct. You go through it event. More precisely, she will work relationship with Watkins. incredible opportunity. That is and it helps you take to take bigger for 50 weeks of the year with two or “Communication and trust is vital. what drives me, not the idea that risks. You are not afraid of anything.” three two-hour sessions every day. It is going to be stressful. It is not this might be my last shot.” THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD 12 olympics July 25-August 12 13 EVENTS YOU SHOULDN’T MISS THE VENUES JULY 25: GB women’ s Wembley Arena Wembley Lord’s ExCel 10am; Scotland’s Hannah football team at Wembley football team will kick Katherine Grainger and Miley goes for gold in the for clash with Brazil at seeking gold will be Mo AUgUST 9: Usain Bolt Hampden St James’ Park Badminton, Stadium Cricket Boxing, Fencing, Judo, off the Olympics at the Anna Watkins hope to be women’s 400m medley at 6.45pm. Farah in the 10,000m at defends 200m title Park Football Rhythmic Gymnastics Football Ground Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Millennium Stadium at in the women’s double 8.09pm. AUgUST 1: Bradley 9.15pm. at 8.55pm. Football Archery Weightlifting, Wrestling 3pm. sculls final at 12.10pm. At JULY 29: Rebecca Wiggins in action on the AUgUST 5: Usain Bolt AUgUST 11: Farah Lee Valley JULY 26: Men’s football the Velodrome, Victoria defends his 100m title and Hyde Park Adlington bids to retain road in the cycling time trial Pendleton may be a runs for gold in the 5000m White Water OLYMPIC PARK team begin their campaign her 400m freestyle title at Paula Radcliffe goes for at 2.15pm. contender in the keirin at at 7.30pm. Can the all- Centre Triathlon, against Senegal at Old 8.13pm. marathon gold. AUgUST 2: Chris Hoy will 6.40pm; Adlington swims conquering Jamaicans win Canoe Slalom Marathon Trafford at 7.45pm. JULY 30: At 3pm, defend his title in the team AUgUST 6: Hoy goes in the men’s 4x100m relay JULY 27: Opening for gold in 800m freestyle Old Swimming divers To m Daley and sprint final at 6.10pm. the sprint. final at 9pm? Day of destiny Trafford ceremony at 9pm. at 7.43pm. LONDON Peter Waterfield contest AUgUST 3: Jessica Ennis AUgUST 7: Gold will be in the pool for Daley in Football JULY 28: Mark the men’s synchro 10m AUgUST 4: the focus for Pendleton North Greenwich Arena launches bid for heptathlon D-day for Ennis begins at the final of the men’s 10m Earls Court Cavendish’s quest for gold platform. gold on the opening day of in the women’s sprint at platform. Hadleigh Artistic Gymnastics, on the road begins at JULY 31: GB women’ s 10.05am and culminates in 5.25pm and Hoy in the Volleyball athletics. Rowing favourites the 800m at 8.35pm. Also AUgUST 12: Lavish Farm Trampoline, Basketball men’s keirin at 6pm. closing ceremony. Mountain Bike Wimbledon SCHEDULE Indicatesfeatured event-see panel above TV and City of Tennis JULY AUGUST JULY AUGUST Coventry The Royal Events 272625 28 29 30 31 123456789101112 Events 272625 28 29 30 31 123456789101112 RADIO Stadium Hampton Court Palace Football Artillery Barracks Ceremonies Gymnastics–Artistic Road Cycling (Time Trial) The BBC will provide live coverage Archery Gymnastics–Rhythmic Shooting of every London 2012 sport from 6 miles Athletics Gymnastics–Trampoline every venue throughout the day. Athletics–Marathon Handball An enhanced video experience The Mall Greenwich Park will give access to up to 24 live HD Athletics–RaceWalk Hockey Millennium Weymouth Eton Dorney Athletics (Marathon and Horse Guards Equestrian – Jumping, Dressage streams and 2500 hours of cover- Stadium and Portland Rowing, Badminton Judo age via the BBC Sport website. A free Football Sailing Canoe Sprint Race Walk), Road Cycling Parade and Eventing, Modern Pentathlon Basketball Modern Pentathlon mobile app will allow audiences to (Road Race) Beach Volleyball (riding, combined event) BeachVolleyball Rowing access content on their mobile. The BBC’s Red Button service on Olympic Park Venues National Venues Boxing Sailing Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat will LeeValley Canoe Slalom Shooting offer access to up to 24 live streams, Water Polo Basketball Copper 1 Wembley Stadium Arena Box White Canoe Sprint Swimming while there will be an additional 24- Arena 2 Greenwich Hadleigh Water hour channel of extra BBC content 3 Wembley Arena Farm Cycling–BMX Swimming–Marathon Centre available via the BBC Red Button for 4 North GreenwichArena (O2) Cycling–Mountain Bike Synchronised Swimming those with Freeview and BT Vision. 5 Earls Court Eton TableTennis BBC TV programmes (all BST) 6 Royal Artillery Barracks Dorney Cycling–Road Aquatic 7 ExCel BBC1/BBC One HD: 9am-1pm, Centre Cycling–Track Taekwondo 8 Lord’s Cricket Ground Millennium Hampden Park 1.45pm-10pm 9 Hyde Park St. James’s Diving Tennis BBC Two: 1pm-1.45pm, 10pm-10.35pm BMX Riverbank Stadium Park Velodrome Track Arena 10 Wimbledon Equestrian–Dressage Triathlon BBC Three: 9am-11pm 11 The Mall BBC Sport website/cable and 12 Horse Guards Parade Volleyball Equestrian–Eventing satellite through the Red Button: Other London Venues Equestrian–Jumping Water Polo 9am-midnight. 3 5 Fencing Weightlifting 9 7 OldTrafford City of Coventry Football Wrestling–Freestyle 1 11 Weymouth and Portland stadium For a complete guide to Scotland’s Gymnastics–Artistic Wrestling–Greco-Roman 4 10 12 Olympic hopefuls, visit Sport 6 SCOTTISH OLYMPIANS 2 8 Tennis Tennis Tennis Tennis Football Football Fencing Fencing Volleyball Volleyball Volleyball Volleyball Athletics Athletics Athletics Athletics Modern Pentathlon

JUDO JUDO JUDO Andy Murray Jamie Murray Elena Baltacha Colin Fleming Kim Little Ifeoma Dieke Richard Kruse Anna Bentley Mark McGivern EuanChris Burton Lamont SarahLynne Clark Beattie JamesJo AustinMorgan Eilidh Child Eilish McColgan Lynsey Sharp Lee McConnell Mhairi Spence

Basketball Basketball Basketball Badminton Badminton Canoe Slalom Canoe Slalom Shooting Shooting Rowing Rowing Rowing Weightlifting Judo Judo Judo Judo

JUDO JUDO JUDO Rose Anderson Robert Archibald Kieran Achara Imogen Bankier Susan Egelstaff David Florence Tim Baillie Jen McIntosh Jon Hammond Katherine Grainger Heather Stanning Lindsey Maguire Peter Kilbride Euan Burton EuanSarah Burton Clark JamesSarah AustinClark SallyJames Conway Austin

Handball Handball Equestrian Sailing Hockey Hockey Cycling Cycling Gymnastics Swimming Swimming Swimming Swimming Swimming Swimming Boxing Beach Volleyball

Lynn McCafferty Zoe Van der Weel Scott Brash Luke Patience Laura Bartlett Emily Maguire David Millar Chris Hoy Daniel Purvis Robbie Renwick Hannah Miley Michael Jamieson Craig Benson Caitlin McClatchey David Carry Josh Taylor Shauna Mullin THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD 12 olympics July 25-August 12 13 EVENTS YOU SHOULDN’T MISS THE VENUES JULY 25: GB women’ s Wembley Arena Wembley Lord’s ExCel 10am; Scotland’s Hannah football team at Wembley football team will kick Katherine Grainger and Miley goes for gold in the for clash with Brazil at seeking gold will be Mo AUgUST 9: Usain Bolt Hampden St James’ Park Badminton, Stadium Cricket Boxing, Fencing, Judo, off the Olympics at the Anna Watkins hope to be women’s 400m medley at 6.45pm. Farah in the 10,000m at defends 200m title Park Football Rhythmic Gymnastics Football Ground Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Millennium Stadium at in the women’s double 8.09pm. AUgUST 1: Bradley 9.15pm. at 8.55pm. Football Archery Weightlifting, Wrestling 3pm. sculls final at 12.10pm. At JULY 29: Rebecca Wiggins in action on the AUgUST 5: Usain Bolt AUgUST 11: Farah Lee Valley JULY 26: Men’s football the Velodrome, Victoria defends his 100m title and Hyde Park Adlington bids to retain road in the cycling time trial Pendleton may be a runs for gold in the 5000m White Water OLYMPIC PARK team begin their campaign her 400m freestyle title at Paula Radcliffe goes for at 2.15pm. contender in the keirin at at 7.30pm. Can the all- Centre Triathlon, against Senegal at Old 8.13pm. marathon gold. AUgUST 2: Chris Hoy will 6.40pm; Adlington swims conquering Jamaicans win Canoe Slalom Marathon Trafford at 7.45pm. JULY 30: At 3pm, defend his title in the team AUgUST 6: Hoy goes in the men’s 4x100m relay JULY 27: Opening for gold in 800m freestyle Old Swimming divers To m Daley and sprint final at 6.10pm. the sprint. final at 9pm? Day of destiny Trafford ceremony at 9pm. at 7.43pm. LONDON Peter Waterfield contest AUgUST 3: Jessica Ennis AUgUST 7: Gold will be in the pool for Daley in Football JULY 28: Mark the men’s synchro 10m AUgUST 4: the focus for Pendleton North Greenwich Arena launches bid for heptathlon D-day for Ennis begins at the final of the men’s 10m Earls Court Cavendish’s quest for gold platform. gold on the opening day of in the women’s sprint at platform. Hadleigh Artistic Gymnastics, on the road begins at JULY 31: GB women’ s 10.05am and culminates in 5.25pm and Hoy in the Volleyball athletics. Rowing favourites the 800m at 8.35pm. Also AUgUST 12: Lavish Farm Trampoline, Basketball men’s keirin at 6pm. closing ceremony. Mountain Bike Wimbledon SCHEDULE Indicatesfeatured event-see panel above TV and City of Tennis JULY AUGUST JULY AUGUST Coventry The Royal Events 272625 28 29 30 31 123456789101112 Events 272625 28 29 30 31 123456789101112 RADIO Stadium Hampton Court Palace Football Artillery Barracks Ceremonies Gymnastics–Artistic Road Cycling (Time Trial) The BBC will provide live coverage Archery Gymnastics–Rhythmic Shooting of every London 2012 sport from 6 miles Athletics Gymnastics–Trampoline every venue throughout the day. Athletics–Marathon Handball An enhanced video experience The Mall Greenwich Park will give access to up to 24 live HD Athletics–RaceWalk Hockey Millennium Weymouth Eton Dorney Athletics (Marathon and Horse Guards Equestrian – Jumping, Dressage streams and 2500 hours of cover- Stadium and Portland Rowing, Badminton Judo age via the BBC Sport website. A free Football Sailing Canoe Sprint Race Walk), Road Cycling Parade and Eventing, Modern Pentathlon Basketball Modern Pentathlon mobile app will allow audiences to (Road Race) Beach Volleyball (riding, combined event) BeachVolleyball Rowing access content on their mobile. 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JUDO JUDO JUDO Andy Murray Jamie Murray Elena Baltacha Colin Fleming Kim Little Ifeoma Dieke Richard Kruse Anna Bentley Mark McGivern EuanChris Burton Lamont SarahLynne Clark Beattie JamesJo AustinMorgan Eilidh Child Eilish McColgan Lynsey Sharp Lee McConnell Mhairi Spence

Basketball Basketball Basketball Badminton Badminton Canoe Slalom Canoe Slalom Shooting Shooting Rowing Rowing Rowing Weightlifting Judo Judo Judo Judo

JUDO JUDO JUDO Rose Anderson Robert Archibald Kieran Achara Imogen Bankier Susan Egelstaff David Florence Tim Baillie Jen McIntosh Jon Hammond Katherine Grainger Heather Stanning Lindsey Maguire Peter Kilbride Euan Burton EuanSarah Burton Clark JamesSarah AustinClark SallyJames Conway Austin

Handball Handball Equestrian Sailing Hockey Hockey Cycling Cycling Gymnastics Swimming Swimming Swimming Swimming Swimming Swimming Boxing Beach Volleyball

Lynn McCafferty Zoe Van der Weel Scott Brash Luke Patience Laura Bartlett Emily Maguire David Millar Chris Hoy Daniel Purvis Robbie Renwick Hannah Miley Michael Jamieson Craig Benson Caitlin McClatchey David Carry Josh Taylor Shauna Mullin THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com 14 olympic games

cycling He might be Scotland’s most medalled Olympian of all time but Chris Hoy’s success is rooted in

DVERSITY, self-doubt and an “When Chris Hoy refers to Chris Hoy in the analytical mind have forged third person, that’s when Chris Hoy goes up Chris Hoy into Britain’s supreme his own arse.” Olympian. So we should not bet So when Kenny upstaged him for the against his latest setback being sprint berth, Sir Chris played the perfect A the crucible for further gold from gentle knight, wishing his rival luck. Yet Learning the Edinburgh track cyclist, who in Beijing he will use the reverse as he did before, to proved himself Britain’s greatest Olympic temper further the keenest of competitive competitor for a century. edges. He will have more recovery between His three gold medals in the Laoshan his events, a less hectic schedule than the Velodrome were the most by a British athlete 16 races he rode unbeaten four years ago. curve since 1908, when Henry Taylor trawled three Hoy graciously said it was “the right from the cast-iron tank that was the White decision” to choose Kenny, and was almost City swimming pool, set inside the cinder diplomatic about the maverick cycling running and cycle tracks. Just how different authority: “There’s often decisions made that that era was can be gauged from the fact I don’t think are for the right reasons, or the that the world 1500 metres record Taylor set benefit of the sport . . . but you have to accept (22min 48.4sec) now stands at 14:34.14. it, and there is no point in stamping your feet Hoy has been denied the chance to defend and shaking your fist.” the individual sprint title he won in Beijing. Such equanimity has been part of the The UCI has reduced track events to one rider making of Hoy. George Swanson, who ran the per discipline per nation, and Jason Kenny Scotia BMX team for which the boy Hoy rode, has been preferred by GB selectors. It was described his reaction to defeat, saying he Kenny whom Hoy beat for sprint gold in was notably unlike other kids: “He would China, and the unsentimental selection now have a discussion with his dad about why he of the younger man is a measure of Britain’s was beaten: whether he had made a mistake determination to make the biggest possible at the start gate, or been geared him wrongly, impact on the medal table. or he got the line wrong going into the corner Hoy is thus riding just two events – whatever it was, there was always a rational in London: the keirin and team sprint. conversation with his dad on the way back up It’s not the first time he has faced such the road, even at eight or nine years old.” disappointment. He won the kilometre gold That’s the foundation for the analytical in Athens but could not defend it because the style that Hoy follows with Team GB, UCI axed it from the programme. “I thought acknowledged as the most well-prepared this was a practical joke, a wind-up,” he and equipped track team in the world. confided then, yet responded by taking on It is far removed from the charity relic new events, the individual sprint and keirin, on which he learned to ride aged five in just and winning both as well as the team sprint. one afternoon on the old quadrangle of The 35-year-old Scot had known his fate for Napier University in Edinburgh’s Colinton weeks, confirming what he had feared since Road. “I bought that first bike from Trinity Kenny had taken his measure at the world Church Hall,” his mother, Carol, told me as championships in Melbourne earier this year. we waited for her son’s first Beijing medal The same ruthless selection policy has also ceremony. “I couldn’t come back on the bus, excluded Ross Edgar, the Scot who won 2008 so I had to get a friend to come and collect it. keirin silver behind Hoy, and who will travel A big thanks to whoever donated that. I was only as a reserve for the team sprint. going to try and haggle, but because it was Hoy admitted at the end of that 2008 for a good cause I thought I’d better not. Olympic campaign that self-doubt helped It was for St Columba’s Hospice.” drive him. “You’re always questioning His father, David, stripped it down on the yourself. Can I do this? If you know you can kitchen table, painting it black and putting do something, it’s not a challenge and it’s on BMX stickers and handlebars. It lasted boring. You can never rest on your laurels, little more than a month. Chris snapped the always people snapping at your heels, even in frame doing jumps off a plank on bricks. your own team.” When he finished second in his first race, So prescient. He could see Kenny he wanted a better machine. The black and coming. Since then he has been the supreme red Raleigh Super Burner on which he had ambassador, a rare meld of excellence and his eye cost £99. His parents were not up for it humility. The knighthood, the adulation and but said if he saved half, they’d pay the rest. the rivalries have not changed him. Asked When relatives came round, Chris waited then what Chris Hoy thinks about Chris Hoy, until they’d enjoyed a couple of drinks and his riposte was as fast as his acceleration: then innocently told them about his BMX-ing,

tennis Special appeal Games hold for Jamie Murray heightened by fact he will be playing literally on his

Andy and Jamie Murray played together AMIE MURRAYis used of our table, which was quite in the doubles world rankings and at the Beijing Olympics. Picture: Getty to seeing famous faces, amusing, and then you had all the found himself facing the slog of the sharing locker rooms with athletes and workers sprinting Challenger circuit in countries such Roger Federer and Rafael towards them trying to get an as San Marino and Kazakhstan. JNadal, and, of course, being autograph. It was quite surreal.” To his credit, he fought his way the brother of Andy. But this The American swimmer Michael back up the rankings to clinch a moment in Beijing 2008 still sticks Phelps was also spotted by the Scot. place at the Olympics being held in in the mind: after the dazzling It is moments like this which make his backyard, with his home located opening ceremony, he and Andy the Olympics unique for a tennis just a few minutes from the All returned to the Olympic village player. Normally used to seeing the England Club. “It is pretty amazing for a bite to eat when they found same faces on the tour week in, to have a home Olympics and themselves surrounded by the week out, Jamie can’t wait for the obviously for us to be competing at giants of the American basketball London Games to start, partnering Wimbledon, which is where I have team. his brother in the men’s doubles lived for the last few years, is a pretty “LeBron James, Jason Kidd and once again. cool thing,” says the 26-year-old. Kobe Bryant were there,” he recalls Since Beijing, Jamie has had his “On top of that, teaming up with with an awe some others reserve for ups and downs. Just 12 months after your brother and competing with his older sibling. “All the superstars representing Great Britain on the him in front of your family and of the team were sitting either side Olympic stage, he dropped to No.135 friends and with the whole country heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25-August 12 15

a insatiable hunger for development, writes Doug Gillon

Although he wasn’t and the bike he was saving for. Aunts and selected to defend uncles would slip him a fiver, he recounts his individual sprint in Richard Moore’s excellent book, Heroes, title, his reaction has Villains and Velodromes. helped illustrate what When Chris saw the film ET, he was makes Chris Hoy so seduced by BMX. It was ironic his first biking special. Picture: love was the discipline introduced by the Getty Images UCI in 2008 at the expense of the kilometre over which he had won gold in Athens. Yet ultimately this led to him making history. Cycling was not his only early interest. Hoy captained the rugby team at George Watson’s. A predecessor was Scotland and Lions captain Gavin Hastings. Hoy even captained an Edinburgh schools XV, yet showed most promise as a rower, competing for Scotland and winning silver at the British championships in the coxless pairs. But Ray Harris, who coached him aged 13 at the Dunedin Cycling Club, told Chris he could achieve anything he wanted in cycling. Ultimately, of course, Hoy has enjoyed the overdue advent of lottery funding. When he was chosen for his first GB event, only three riders were sent. No mechanics. Nothing. British sport was devoid of any plan for success then. Now, the GB cycling back-up team numbers around 30, recruited from a’ the airts. An early signing was a clinical psychiatrist from a high-security prison. Hoy recalls he state of the sporting nation when he competed at the Commonwealth Games, in 1998: “That was the last Games where the Scotland team had the attitude of being second-class citizens and of thinking, ‘We’re gonna get humped here, but at least we’ve got the clothing’.” In Kuala Lumpur he was ninth in the kilometre and eighth in the individual sprint, events at which he won Olympic gold. Less than a year before winning gold in Athens, he was only the UK kilo No.3, demonstrating the work ethic he has embraced. In Beijing, Hoy could not believe the impact of his success. Former Scottish champion Martin Williamson texted a cameo from theknowledge Edinburgh. He had overheard two tramps on the High Street discussing Hoy’s keirin ride. Chris hoy Hoy had us all in stitches: “I think they Age 36 Born Edinburgh thought I went a bit early, that I maybe The form Found himself under the spotlight had too small a gear . . . ” when he claimed a trio of gold medals in the He said it was “ridiculous” that he was keirin, sprint and team sprint events at the 2008 being touted for a knighthood and that far Olympics but was already a gold medallist by then, more worthy of honours were the likes of his having won the kilo in Athens in 2004. Scotland’s granny. She worshipped with 1924 Olympic most successful Olympian to date and most 400m champion Eric Liddell and was awarded accomplished Olympic male cyclist of all time, he is the MBE for services to MS in Scotland. still the man to beat having claimed keirin gold in the What happens during the coming days will 2012 World Championships in Melbourne. shape the rest of Hoy’s career, and determine whether there may be a glorious postscript in 2014. That’s his dream if his body can take it. home patch, writes Stuart Fraser

right behind you is a pretty cool straight-sets loss to France’s opportunity, but it is now behind him a bit after the match,” Jamie theknowledge thing to be able to do.” Arnaud Clement and Michael them. The brothers have earned said. “He was obviously There will be no need to fight the Llodra, the 2007 Wimbledon their second shot at an Olympic disappointed and upset about not JAmie murrAy jet lag which undoubtedly affected champions. medal in London, which Jamie says being able to win, but he realised he Age 26 Born Dunblane the Murrays’ performance in “It was a tough match for us,” would rate a greater honour than gave a great account of himself and The form Unlike his brother Andy, Beijing. He and Andy travelled Jamie says, “but we didn’t play very the Wimbledon mixed doubles title he won a lot of people over that day doubles specialist Jamie Murray has a there straight from the US, where well at all. It was a pretty he won with Serbia’s Jelena with the way he performed and grand slam title on his cv, having won the Andy had just won his first ATP disappointing performance, so that Jankovic in 2007. the way he handled himself mixed title at Wimbledon with Jelena Masters title in Cincinnati and Jamie was pretty annoying. On top of that, Winning a medal would surely afterwards too. Jankovic in 2007. He also reached the had reached the quarter-finals we were in quite a good section of be the ideal way for Andy to get over “I think the fact it has come so final at the US Open with Liezel Huber of the doubles. the draw as well, so probably if we his defeat to Roger Federer in the soon afterwards and the fact he the following year and the semi-finals When the competition got under had been able to find a way through, Wimbledon final just a few weeks doesn’t have to change surface or of the French Open last year. way, it was a struggle. Andy we would have had a great chance ago. While Jamie has competed in anything like that and because it is At Wimbledon this year, Murray suffered a shock first-round defeat to at least play a match for a medal, clay-court tournaments in Bastad such a big and unique event for us teamed up with long-time men’s doubles to the relatively unknown but we didn’t even come close to it and Hamburg since, Andy has as tennis players, I am sure he is not partner Eric Butorac for the first time in Yen-Hsun Lu, of Chinese Taipei, in in the end.” taken some time off, and his brother going to have the slump that he has five years. They lost in the second round the singles, and the brothers exited There was understandable is confident he will not suffer the had in previous years. to Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra. the doubles in the second round, frustration in the immediate same post-grand slam final slump “I am sure he wants to do the best winning just four games in a aftermath of that missed seen in previous years. “I spoke to he can to win a gold medal.” THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com 16 olympic games

shooting Jen McIntosh is maintaining a family tradition, writes Susan Swarbrick

HEN Jen McIntosh He knows how to get the best out of me steps out to make her and how to motivate me with just a few Olympic debut on words better than anyone else can. It’s Saturday she won’t definitely good from that point of view.” be wearing the lucky McIntosh will compete in the W pants she famously Olympic 50m rifle three positions and donned as she captured her two 10m air rifle. “Obviously a medal would Commonwealth Games gold medals be the dream, but I’m hoping to make in Delhi. Nor will she will be sporting a final in one of my events,” she said, the matching purple socks which “Realistically that would be in the covered her toenails, each intricately women’s 3P [50m rifle three positions] painted with individual Saltires. but anything can happen, certainly According to McIntosh, she toa in the final.” simply no longer has the need for l r Her biggest rivals include Jamie Gray superstitious gimmicks. l m of the United States and Germany’s Lucky pants have given way to an Barbara Engleder, while McIntosh unwavering belief in her own ability. a doesn’t rule out strong competition “I have come to realise I make my own s from China, France and Russia, either. luck,” she says. “I wore the socks in “Jamie and Barbara are definitely up Delhi because that was what I always c there, particularly in the women’s 3P. wore and it’s important in shooting to You always have to watch for the keep things the same. As for my pants – Chinese, too. They are consistent and it will just be whatever pair comes to have so much depth in their squad. hand.” It’s incredible how many good shooters It is a statement which China produce.” demonstrates how McIntosh has With the accuracy of a shot relying matured as a competitor. Now on a steady hand, there is perhaps 21, she has an old head on more pressure than in other sports young shoulders, although to keep nerves at bay. “ You have that is hardly surprising. to control it, although there are For McIntosh, London definitely times when the marks the culmination adrenaline can be beneficial of more than a decade of because all your senses are so ambition and hard work. much sharper: you can see the Her parents, Donald movement, feel everything and Shirley, are both and much more aware,” former international McIntosh says. “The competitive shooters problem can be, though, if and McIntosh decided the adrenaline hits at the to follow in their start and then you calm footsteps at the tender down and that’s usually age of three when her where the problem occurs. mother stepped off the You have to keep it under plane from Victoria control. It’s a balancing act. with a Commonwealth “When I wake up in Games gold medal round the morning I do an audit her neck. of where I’m at mentally, McIntosh had to wait gauging if I’m too calm or a bit longer to pick up a too hyped up. If that’s the case rifle, taking part in her first then I go through all of my shoot aged 10. She has since strategies, listening to music moved steadily through the or whatever, to get myself where international ranks and I need to be. Then it’s about achieved double Commonwealth maintaining that throughout the Games gold in 2010, winning the match and keeping maybe 5% of your women’s 50m rifle prone individual brain not focused on the shooting, but and 50m prone pairs. She also took on you and what you are doing.” bronze in the women’s 50m rifle three While her focus is firmly on the next positions pairs, her medal haul seeing fortnight, McIntosh admits it’s been McIntosh join her mother in holding important to have a plan beyond that. the crown for most successful Scottish “It is hard to look past something as big female athlete at a single as the Olympics, but I found in Delhi, Commonwealth Games. because I had only been looking at the This, however, will be the Aberdeen- Commonwealth Games, that I woke up based shooting star’s first Olympics and the day after my match and thought, her pride is palpable. “It’s very special,” ‘the world still spins?’, so I definitely she says. “I don’t have the words to have a firm plan for next year. I’m describe it yet. It’s good to know all going to do some evening classes. I’m my hard work has paid off.” definitely going to keep going until the Her father, Scotland’s fourth most 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, capped marksman, is head rifle coach there is no question about that. I’m not for British Shooting and performance the kind the person who can just walk manager of the Scottish shooting team. theknowledge away and leave my title undefended.” “My parents are both very proud, mum McIntosh is the current Scottish particularly,” said McIntosh. “Dad is Jen McIntosh champion in both the women’s 10m having to be very professional about it Age 21 Birthplace Edinburgh air rifle and 50m rifle three positions. and treat it like I’m just another athlete the form Has chalked up a fair few medals in her time, not least a brace How did the Scottish women’s 50m rifle he has to work with and help me with of Commonwealth gold medals and a bronze in the same competition. prone elude her? “My mother won the my training schedule. Mum, though, McIntosh has also taken two golds at the Commonwealth Shooting prone,” she chuckles. “I was beaten she is being very gushy . . .” she laughs. Federation Championships. With her father being the head rifle coach for by both my mum and my little sister Is it difficult having her father as her British Shooting and her mother having held the title of Scotland’s most Seonaid. I did not have a good day . . .” boss essentially? “It had its challenges successful female athlete at a single games, a title later held by McIntosh, A beat followed by a smile. “It’s two to begin with but it’s no big deal,” says she will have plenty of support as she chases her Olympic dream. years to Glasgow, that’s what I keep McIntosh. “It has its real benefits. telling myself.” heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25-august 12 17

boxing Winning test event has given Josh Taylor real hope of gold, writes Hugh MacDonald Going in with ring of confidence

E is a fighter. He carries himself outstanding. He has also praised his boxer for there to help me out, a good person. He gave in the way of one, he talks as one, theknowledge moving down from light-welterweight. ‘‘He is advice before the Commonwealth Games and he lives as one. It is his history big at the weight, he can really punch and as he used to spar with me,” Taylor says. “When and it is his future. Josh Taylor is josh taylor a southpaw he must be a nightmare to fight,’’ I was younger, he used to muck about with the embodiment of the eternal age 21 Born Prestonpans says McCormack. me in the ring and I loved that. I still see him Htruth that fighters do not seek the form The lightweight’s honours include Taylor has buckled down with enthusiasm. quite a lot.’’ battles outside the ring. His chat is cheery, youth Commonwealth Games bronze in India in ‘‘I have always loved it,’’ he says. ‘‘The fitter Taylor, the only Scot in the Olympic boxing forthright and friendly. There is fight in 2008 and Commonwealth Games silver in Delhi in and the better you get then the more you team, also becomes the first Scottish Taylor but it is only shown when he is 2010. A gold medal at the Olympic Games Test enjoy it. The hard work pays off and suddenly lightweight to go to the Games since Dick wearing gloves, sweating in a gym or quietly event in London in late 2011 was followed this year you are looking at Olympic Games.’’ McTaggart, who won a gold medal in taking on the battle to lose weight from an with a silver medal at the Feliks Stamm tournament But, at 21, does he not regret the sacrifices Melbourne in 1956 and a bronze four years already toned body. in Poland. Taylor earned qualification London 2012 he has made? Does he never pine for a night later in Rome. ‘‘I know Dick. I see him at He travels to the London Olympics to fight after defeating Armenian Vladimir Sarukhanyan out with the lads, a trip to a nightclub? ‘‘Naw,” boxing shows. He tells me all his boxing as a lightweight with a short, dramatic career 19-9 in Turkey. he says. “It doesn’t really appeal to me, that stories and I love listening to it all,’’ he says. as a boxer behind him. Taylor only started stuff. I would much rather be in a gym Taylor is already walking his own path boxing when he was 15, having his first fight working out. I am basically a full-time boxer.’’ with some distinction. He won a bronze months later when he was 16, just five years has been driven by his character. ‘‘I was Taylor trains from Monday to Thursday in medal at the 2008 youth Commonwealth ago. However, he was no stranger to fighting. always a sporty child,’’ he says, but this Sheffield under the guidance of Team GB Games in India and a silver at the 2010 He had practised taekwando for 10 years, casual comment belies his intensity. boxing performance director Rob McCracken. Commonwealth Games in Delhi. ‘‘I believe and had become a champion and a black belt. Taylor, firstly, is besotted with boxing. He then heads back home to train at Lochend I can win in London,’’ he says. “If I box to my His conversion to boxing was sudden but ‘‘There is so much more to it than when you at the weekend. His dedication has been potential, then I have a great chance to win,’’ complete. ‘‘I had always watched boxing on just watch it,’’ he says. ‘‘It can just look like epitomised by his willingness to lose four he says, with the sureness of someone who television and loved it,’’ says Taylor, who was two guys knocking lumps out of each other. kilos to drop a weight. ‘‘It was hard at first,’’ took the gold medal at the Olympic test event born and brought up in Prestonpans. ‘‘My But there is so much more behind it. It is he says. ‘‘But once I started chipping away, in London last year and won the silver medal mum worked at Meadowbank and I used to a skill and there is a technique. It is the only it felt good. I had to refine my diet, cut out at the Feliks Stamm tournament in Poland enjoy watching Alex Arthur train.’’ sport where you have to think about your some carbs and proteins. I had to lose muscle this season. He adds: ‘‘I went to try boxing to keep fit. defence when you are on the attack.’’ as well.” Taylor, whose father is a council gardener, My first session was great and I was addicted. Given his martial arts background, Taylor It was a slow process but one that has wants to fight on beyond the Olympics, with I just went down the gym and did a workout became intrigued by the art of self-defence, been rewarded with a substantial dividend. the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in and hit the bags. Then I started sparring and though his fast hands and his size for his Taylor is now tall and strong for his weight. 2014 a priority. ‘‘I want to box there. It is going that was it. It was something new, fresh: I was weight make him a powerful opponent. He acknowledges: ‘‘I have fast hands and like to be class that,” he says, relishing the really excited about it.’’ ‘‘I did not expect to be in the Olympics just to use combinations but, yeah, I do have opportunities boxing has offered him. “It has Arthur, who was WBO super featherweight five years after starting boxing,’’ he admits. strength.’’ made me a more confident person,’’ he says champion, became a friend and informal However, there is no secret behind his He is aware, too, of the footsteps he follows of the sport he loves. “I can go and talk to adviser to the young tyro, who has in five progress. His long-time coach at Lochend in Scottish boxing. His friendship with people and meet new friends. I feel safe.’’ years made the journey from a novice to Boxing Club in Edinburgh, Terry McCormack, Arthur has opened him up to the history of His opponents face a more uncertain fate a potential Olympic medallist. Taylor’s rise has stated simply that Taylor’s work ethic is the sport. ‘‘I know him very well. He is always when the Olympic bell rings. THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com 18 olympic games

women’s football Scots pair looking forward to Wembley date with Brazil, writes Doug Gillon

ER name, Ifeoma, means and Scotland is the only country I would feel them in the Millennium Stadium,” Dieke for. But the Scotland coach, Vera Pauw, “something beautiful” in the Igbo comfortable playing for.” says, “but the final group match will be invited me to a few of the camps and I went. language of Nigeria. Her parents This is delivered in a Lanarkshire accent, against Brazil at Wembley. They are just like In late February I got a call from April have their roots there and Ifeoma more robust and authentic than anything the Brazilian men: flair players. They’re Heinrichs, the US team manager. She wanted HDieke arrived in Scotland via the Dee Hepburn affected. It seems trite to dynamic and love the ball. Brazilian teams, me to go to camp with them in April 2004. US, but there is no confusion surrounding describe her as a real-life Gregory’s Girl men and women, are all the same. A week before I was due to go, it just didn’t her sense of national identity. She is – now 31, she was months old when the film “Every game is going to be difficult, but feel right. I thought: ‘I’m Scottish. Yes, I was unashamedly and unequivocally Scottish and was released – but peer respect did come Brazil at Wembley has a ring to it. It’s going to born in America, but I don’t feel American.’ proud of it, and completely unfazed that the when she nutmegged the boys in her school be incredible. The biggest thing is to get out So I thanked them for the opportunity and fact the way she feels has already cost her team. She has grown used to such imagery, of the group. It’s going to be massive and declared for Scotland. a chance to be an Olympic football gold and comparisons with Parminder Nagra and that’s our priority: one game at a time. “It’s about playing with the heart and medallist. Keira Knightley from Bend It Like Beckham. That’s our focus.” having passion. Playing for the USA, I would Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, Dieke The truth is, her story is more interesting The thought that she could be the first Scot not have had that. I’d grown up in Scotland, qualified to play for the USA but rejected the than celluloid fiction. For Dieke, who plays for to play international football at Wembley went to primary school and high school in overtures they made to her eight years ago Vittsjo GIK in Sweden, and her fellow since Don Hutchison scored there in 1999 Cumbernauld. Scotland’s all I’ve known from because it “did not feel right”. Within five Scotland internationalist Kim Little (160 caps provokes a huge guffaw. Dieke continues: an early age. I have played in America, I went months, Team USA were crowned Olympic between them) are in the 18-strong squad “I could play for Nigeria because my parents to college there on a scholarship, but no champions in Athens. Nigeria would also which lines up today in the opening event are from there and I have American and matter where I go, I love coming back to have liked her to declare for the country of of the 2012 Olympics, with the Great Britain British passports. I came to a crossroads at Scotland. It’s always home to me. Even if my her parents but the defender says: “I came women’s team facing New Zealand in Cardiff. Christmas in 2003. Before that I was just parents sold the house, I’d still feel it’s where to Cumbernauld when I was three and a half “Cameroon are in our section and we meet happy playing football, it didn’t matter who all my memories were formed and where

Judo Euan Burton knows his body may not hold together until the Commonwealth Games and believes

There are no more Olympics }for me but I know I can win ...

T IS more than quarter of a century since a shy but at the end of the day, it’s what you believe in Scottish six-year-old first stepped tentatively on to a yourself. Players who achieve great things ahead of judo mat. The only aspiration was from Mr and Mrs you certainly open doors. Before Graeme Randall won Burton – that their son, Euan, might become more the world title, people would have laughed in the face confident and make friends. Now 33, the little lad of any Scot who wanted to be world champion.” Ifrom Pencaitland has graduated to gold-medal Not only did Randall win world gold in 1999 at contender at the Olympic Games. Burton’s weight, but Burton was his sparring partner The judoka’s way is never easy. “Fall down seven in Edinburgh. “Graeme did have faith in me and times, get up eight,” is a tenet of the sport’s culture, pushed back the boundaries of what was possible. enshrined in the philosophy of its Japanese homeland, That’s what I hope to do at the Games because and echoing the Old Testament (Proverbs, 24:16). Scotland has never had an Olympic judo champion. I’d Highest ranked of Britain’s 14-strong squad, Burton like to open that door, not just for myself but for future believes he is capable of gold at 81 kilos, “but so are at generations, like Graeme and David Sommerville have least 16 others,” he says. “There is always somebody done for me. It’s great to be at home, with the facility with a style which can beat you.” at Ratho, but what really makes the difference is the Accepting that reality is a humbling feature of judo. people: coaching staff, athletes, and support services It teaches exponents to be philosophical and Burton at the Institute of Sport.” has the grace and intellect to admire that. “Success is His depth of feeling on negativity surprisingly like anything worthwhile. It has a price. You have to transcends the impact of the crushing blows of pay the price to win and you have to pay the price to combat, corrosive effect of injury inactivity, and get to the point where success is possible. Most surgery. important, you must pay the price to stay there.” World and European bronze medallist in 2007, That’s the gospel according to the legendary US Burton was fast-tracked as a medal contender by BOA gridiron coach, Vince Lombardi. performance director Sir Clive Woodward. Beijing Burton has paid his dues, in blood, sweat and tears ended in tears when he drew the world champion in while trawling the globe to become the best he can be. the repechage. Games over. He placed seventh. “I’ve spent no more than four years in Britain during Yet he is now one of four Ratho-based players on the the past 10,” he says, “and more than a year in Japan 2012 team. A fifth Olympian, his girlfriend Jemma alone.” Gibbons, is about to move to Edinburgh, where they For Burton, however, the most pertinent philosophy plan to set up home together. Burton himself, however, is that of former world heavyweight boxing champion is unsure whether he will continue after the Games. Muhammad Ali: “It’s lack of faith that makes people Operated on immediately after Beijing, he spent late afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.” 2008 and most of 2009 in rehab. A tear in his left This resonates. “Lack of expectation that others had shoulder had leaked fluid, causing a large cyst to press for me was the toughest thing I had to overcome,” he on the nerve down his arm. “Any major injury is said. “Players and coaches, when I was younger, would potentially career-threatening,” he says, “and if you never have earmarked me as a future champion. When are a year off, there’s never a guarantee you’ll get people don’t believe in you, that’s difficult to overcome, back.” heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25-august 12 19

I learned the skills that have helped me along. two seasons in Sweden, 14 games with have we suggested their careers would suffer,” My brother and I would wait for my sister to Chicago Red Stars in the inaugural Women’s confirmed an SFA spokesman. “All we need is theknowledge pick us up after school and we’d kick a ball Professional Soccer season and also with for them to understand our position, the around in the gym with one of the teacher’s Boston Breakers. Last year she was with reasons for it and the feeling of supporters.” ifEoma diEkE sons. A coach from [Cumbernauld] Cosmos Limassol in Cyprus, before moving back to Members the GB men’s football squad earn age 31 born Amherst, happened to see us and asked me along. Sweden with Vittsjo GIK. six-figure salaries and play before massive Massachusetts, USA “At school, the boys felt we’d be an Her dad, Peter, lectures in tourism and he audiences on TV. The women do not. For the form Dieke has played embarrassment to the team. But once they and her mum, Edith, insisted she focus on them it will be the greatest experience of club football in the US, give you a chance, and see you can actually qualifications as well as her sport when she their lives. Little, from Mintlaw, Sweden and Cyprus. pass it, they start giving you the ball a bit went to the US. “They were delighted when Aberdeenshire, who made her Scotland debut She has made 90 more and you get a lot of respect. I played I got a full scholarship and then a degree in at 17 and has scored 23 goals for her country, Scotland appearances. with boys until I was 16. When I’m back in business management,” she says. “I have was outspoken even before selection. Cumbernauld now, I still play fives with the never used it to earn a living, yet. The year “I don’t see why anyone would want to stop kim LittLE guys I grew up with.” and a half I was not playing professionally, I a player from playing at a massive tournament age 22 born Aberdeen Dieke has flourished on a far wider stage, was an assistant coach at the university.” like the Olympics,” said the Arsenal Ladies the form Little, who has 70 however. Spotted by a scout when she was Despite their professed angst over Scots midfielder. “It’s the biggest sporting event Scotland caps, played with with Cumbernald Ladies and recruited to playing in a GB team – possibly more a sop ever. If I get the opportunity I’ll grab it with Hibernian Ladies before joining Florida International University in Miami, to Jacobite tendencies among a sector of the both hands. I’d definitely play.” Arsenal in 2008. She scored she graduated to the Women’s United Soccer Scottish support – the SFA have made it clear After a lamented long absence, it would be to help the London side lift the Association side Atlanta Beat, but the league there will be no disciplinary repercussions something beautiful as well as supreme irony FA Women’s Cup last year. folded at the end of her first season. She had against Dieke and Little. “Never at any time if women lead Scotland’s return to Wembley. a gold medal could inspire a new generation of judoka, writes Doug Gillon

The injury catalogue includes knee and wrist theknowledge surgery, broken fingers, injections in a hand and ankle. “But as long as my body holds up for the next Euan burton few weeks, I will be fairly happy with the service it has age 33 born March 31, 1979 done me.” the form After fighting his way into the final He opted out of a business degree at Edinburgh repechage at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, the University. “I felt I was not physically capable of being Edinburgh-based judoka lost to Brazilian Tiago a great judo player if I was also concentrating on my Camilo. He will now look to recreate the form that studies and not intelligent enough to get a great allowed him to claim gold in the 2009 Tokyo Grand degree if I was also doing judo.” Slam, Swedish Open, GB World Cup, and Tre Torri He would like to remain on the mat until the 2014 International. A genuine medal contender. Commonwealth Games. “We have a fantastic set-up in Scotland which I’d like to be involved in and judo is a strong Scottish sport. Coaching is an option, but I’d never rule out competing in Glasgow. The thought that you’re a long time retired recurs constantly. “ I’m probably biased, but I don’t think many sports are harder than judo. You get up every day and have to go and fight people, get dragged around. You have to get smashed on your back and you have to do all the additional training. I take nothing away from other people. I’ve huge respect for anyone who tries to get to the pinnacle of their sport. But judo is a hard, hard game. The basic premise is grabbing hold of another guy and trying to smash him, break his arm or strangle him unconscious. At it’s core it is brutal, so the training has to be brutal, to a certain extent. “Yes, 2014 is on the radar, but it will depend on whether my body can cope and whether I’m still motivated. When someone smashes you on your back, it’s demoralising. To get up and try to overcome that teaches respect and humility, which stand you in good stead for the rest of your life on the planet.” The full-on aggressive chess of judo demands a complex balance, soaring belief tempered with pragmatic realism. “I will never be disappointed in myself because I will have given everything. Sometimes you don’t perform to the best of your ability, but that’s never because I didn’t try. I’ve given everything over the last 20-odd years. I am capable of Olympic gold, but just because you’ve wanted something your whole life doesn’t mean it will happen. “The disappointment will be if I don’t achieve gold. I will have missed an opportunity that will never come again. There are no more Olympic Games for me. I know I can win. There’s no point in aiming for a placing, or for a medal. If I get a medal, will I be happy? Probably. An Olympic medal is the only one missing from my collection. Will I be ecstatic? No. Only if I’m on the top step of the rostrum. “I’ve beaten the current world champion, current Olympic champion, the previous world champion. All these guys, as I am, are capable of coming away with the gold, but psychologically it’s good to know I have the beating of them.” THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com 20 olympics games

modern pentathlon Spence is genuine Scottish chance for Olympic gold, writes Hugh MacDonald

HE romance will fade for Mhairi the world championships last month and is development, is a natural competitor with a Spence on a hill in Greenwich on a renowned as a competitor. Her realisation that willingness to devote her time and energy on theknowledge summer’s day. The 26-year-old will be she was driven to win came as an eight-year-old training. Asked what she does away from the tired, stressed and straining for the in a Highland pool when as a member of sport she replied succinctly: “Sleep.” Mhairi Spence ultimate prize. Her love of sport, most Inverness Swimming Clubs she broke a club She trains at the University of Bath under the age 26 Birthplace Inverness Tspecifically the modern pentathlon, record. “That is when I got the winning bug. guidance of a team coach, individual coaches The form Won gold medals in will be buried under a mound of hurt. It has never gone away. It never will,” she said. for various disciplines, a nutritionist, and a both the individual and the team The Scot is the world champion in her chosen Her introduction to the modern pentathlon psychologist. Spence has to balance her events at the 2012 World discipline. Her five-in-a-day on August 12 came after watching Stephanie Cook win gold training to meet certain standards. There can Championships, and qualified to includes pistol shooting, fencing, 200m at the Sydney Olympics but her interest in sport be a temptation to focus on the sports where she be chosen for the modern freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a started as a youngster. “I had ponies since I was excels, particularly riding and fencing. “It is pentathlon at the 2012 three kilometre cross-country run. The last very little as my mum had a horse and so when hard not to fall into the trap of doing too much Olympics. Won bronze at the desperate run to the line will be over a hilly we were small we were thrown on horseback. or too little in one area. But I am lucky. I just do 2010 World Cup in Kent and a course at Greenwich. It is not Spence’s strongest I learned to swim early and I ran with Inverness what I am told,” she said. silver at the 2011 World Cup. suit but her love of the sport will sustain her as Harriers and for my school, Inverness Royal Her sights are now set on those Greenwich Helped to take the British team she seeks to fulfil a childhood dream. Academy. I started fencing at 16 when the hills. “The Olympics have always been a dream to a victory at the 2009 European Spence, from Inverness, has embraced the modern pentathlon became a possibility.” for me but I did not dare think about competing. Championships in Germany. philosophy of the modern pentathlon. She is Spence, who has gained the nickname ‘Fency I was cautious and careful when anyone talked also desperate to compete in an Olympics after Spency’ because of her love of fencing, said: about London 2012. I wanted to concentrate on the disappointment of missing out in Beijing. “I always told my mum and dad as a child that the world championships. I maybe was “I talked at a school recently and I brushed I was going to go to the Olympic Games.” dreaming but I was not dreaming big. up on De Coubertin’s desire to use sport as a That prediction has been fulfilled. She “Everything for me is about the next vehicle for hope, brotherhood, peace and unity. approaches London as genuine contender for a task, what is the next challenge. Now it is And then you realise that behind the scenes gold medal but knows that the vagaries of the the Olympics. Now that is all I am thinking of our sport we are almost the epitome of sport mean nothing can be taken for granted. about. It is marvellous to be part of this big, that. We have that brotherhood, that unity. “The psychology during the day can be tough,” spectacular event. It is wonderful to have a He invented it and we have created what he she admitted. “One has to stay in control and in chance of winning a medal. There is nothing wanted. Now that’s cool.” focus the whole day. It is not over until the very different in terms of the competition and the Baron de Coubertin, the founder of the end. You always have a chance to pull yourself competitors so I must keep a grasp on that modern Olympic games, structured the modern up the rankings if you are behind after a certain between now and that one day. And if I do I have pentathlon to recreate the experience of a 19th event. Then again, you concentrate on trying to a chance of doing very well. I must keep my century cavalry soldier behind enemy lines: hold on if you are ahead. focus. I can be over-excited about it afterwards.” the combatant must ride a horse, fight with “You can not get exhausted or over-excited The reward for ultimate success will come pistol and sword, swim, and run. “I fell in love about being in a medal position during the day. in the shape of a West Highland terrier. Her with the diversity of the sport,” said Spence. Anything can happen until the last step. It is parents have promised her a puppy if she wins “It might seem odd to say it but it is fun. mastering that skill, that ability to focus that gold. “I will call him Donald. I plan to stay on in Internationally we all are one big family. makes someone a very successful pentathlete. the sport and if I win a medal at Rio then I want We are very competitive but we have a relaxed You have to be able to stay in control, be an Irish Wolfhound called Eugene.” environment. You are excited to go to a oblivious. It about focusing one event at a time. First, though, she faces a day that culminates competition to compete but to also see The focus must be very narrow.” in a slog beside the Thames. The romantic friends from another country.” The fitness, too, must be razor-sharp. Spence, notions of De Coubertin may not be in the Spence has made friends but she who graduated from the University of Bath forefront of her mind in those crucial moments has also made her name. She won with a degree in coach education and sports but the passion will see her over the line.

medal hope is riding high heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25-august 12 21 sailing Luke Patience is from a long line of sailors, but is the first to go for gold, writes Susan Swarbrick

We are good }enough to be the best in the world

Y his own admission His is an unwavering ambition and drive. Luke Patience was born to sail. Likewise, he has developed an ability to He comes from an impressive endure pain. “I think all sportsmen and maritime lineage: his sportswomen can relate to that – if it was grandfathers and great easy it wouldn’t be worth it, would it?” he Bgrandfathers were lifeboatmen says. “It’s something which is familiar, in Aberdeenshire, then, further back, Zulu although I’m not sure I would say ‘normal’.” class fishermen who navigated their sturdy Patience appears to be weathering the vessels around the north-east of Scotland at expectations of the nation with aplomb. the end of the 19th century. “Pressure is a funny thing. It can be both a “Sailing is in my blood,” he says. “For my blessing and a curse,” he says. “I don’t feel the grandparents and grandparents it was a way weight of the expectation from the team, of life, be it lifeboats, fishing or skipper’s public, my friends or family. The pressure tickets during the war. Back in the day it was comes from the fact I want to succeed – and more of a living, then it became a pleasure I hate losing. I see it as a strong desire to race pursuit and now, for me, it’s a career. It’s nice at the Olympic Games and do all I can to be to look back through my family history and standing on that podium.” see it’s been boats, boats, boats.” He and Bithell have sailed together since Patience, 25, who will represent Britain 2009 and took silver in last year’s World in the 470 class in the Olympics, alongside Championships. Both of them, says Patience, Rochdale-born Stuart Bithell, got his brings something different to the table. introduction to the sport aged three and started to sail seriously at nine. Originally from Aberdeen, he grew up in theknowledge the village of Rhu, near Helensburgh. In the freezing winter mornings he would have to luke patience snap the frost off the boat’s ropes in order to age 25 Birthplace Aberdeen get out and practise, yet he is sanguine when the form Two weeks after pairing up with Stuart asked how he kept going in such conditions. Bithell in the men’s 470 double-handed dinghy in “Easily,” says Patience. “Okay, I’m verging on 2009, the Scot and his new partner won silver frostbite in my fingers, I’m cold to the bone medals at the 470 World Championships. At the end but I know everything I’m doing is taking me of 2010, Patience and Bithell were ranked fourth in that little bit closer, it’s fuelling that passion the ISAF world rankings, and won silver at the 2011 of competing and winning. It was easy to World Championships in Perth and the European keep pushing through those cold days as a Championships in Helsinki the same year. kid. In my head I was floating away with this dream the whole time and I’d be damned if I was going to let the elements stop me.” “I often describe Stuart as being like a The dream is an Olympic gold medal. “It Labrador. He’s a happy-go-lucky kind of guy doesn’t mean that another result would be and doesn’t get stressed,” he says. “He always a disaster, but we are driven by the fact we has a smile on his face and nothing is too are good enough to be the best in the world,” heavy or big. He’s refreshing to be around. he says. “It’s about arriving at the start line “I’m more of a thinker and fired up. with Stuart and I being able to say, ‘We have If we stick with the dog analogy, I’m like a worked harder than anyone, we deserve this.’ Jack Russell. If I’m not physically doing You hear people say ‘a medal’s a medal’, but something towards our gold medal campaign, I’m doing this for a gold medal – and we will I will spend hours thinking of it. be fighting to the death for that.” “We complement each other. If we need to Yet the build-up to his Olympic debut, he get intense and fired up that comes from me, says, has differed from what he envisaged. if we need to ground ourselves and take a “I remember all the way through the trials deep breath, Stuart is the man to do that.” last year thinking, ‘If I get selected for the Even when Patience is not sailing you Olympics, I will be the happiest boy in the would be hard pushed to find him on dry world,’” he recalls. “It was a long, gruelling land. “Our family home is in Tiree and I love process and when I got the phone call in nothing more than heading there and surfing January I was the happiest boy in the with my buddies. Life doesn’t get much better world – although for a surprisingly short than that, having a bonfire and cracking open time. I thought that elation would last for a few beers on the beach. Give me the ocean months, but that was gone very quickly and and I’m a happy boy: fishing, windsurfing, Luke Patience’s has turned right back around to, ‘Right, surfing, you name it. I love being outdoors.” post-Olympic demob business is business, let’s get the job done’. After the Olympic sailing regatta in will include surfing “That feeling did take me by surprise, Weymouth and Portland, Patience will plump and beers on the just how quickly you take it in your stride. for the quiet life. “I’ll move out to Tiree for a beach at Tiree. Every so often I will think, ‘Wow, I’m going to bit and see where it takes me. I’ll have a few Picture: Marc Turner the Olympic Games’, but mostly I’m thinking: down months before it all starts up again – ‘How can I be better tomorrow?’” hopefully I’ll be celebrating, not reflecting.” THE HERALD 25.07.12 heraldscotland.com 22 olympic games

feature The Games throw up compelling stories ... as well as the odd controversy, finds Alasdair Reid

HARIOTS OF FIRE may have portrayed the Paris Olympics of 1924 as an age of sporting innocence, Cbut the reality of the Games was very different that year. The victorious USA rugby team were accused of boorishness and brutality, and there were accusations of professionals being fielded after several American football players were drafted into the side that beat France in the final. In the most notorious incident of the Games, French boxer Roger Brousse was awarded a points victory over Briton Harry Mallin, despite clear evidence that he had bitten his opponent on many occasions. In another, an Italian fencer challenged a Hungarian judge to a duel. An editorial in The Times called for an end to the Olympics. “The peace of the world is too precious [to be] sacrificed on the altar of international sport,” the paper declared.

HE marathon event of the 1904 Games in St Louis took place in hot and steamy conditions, with the T temperature reaching 32.2°C (90°F) at one point. It also took place over a course that included seven hills. Despite that, organisers provided just one water stop along the length of the course. In the conditions, New Yorker Fred Lorz’s winning time of 3hr 13min – more than 15 minutes faster than any other runner – was quite remarkable. In the scenes of jubilation that followed, he had his picture taken with Alic Roosevelt, the President’s daughter. The celebrations were shortlived, however. After sceptical officials launched an investigation, it emerged that Lorz had travelled 11 miles of the course by car.

HE 1912 Games in Stockholm earned unwanted notoriety when 21-year-old Portuguese runner Francisco Lazaro Tcollapsed during the marathon and died in hospital the following day, the first death of a competitor in Olympic history. In the aftermath, it was proposed that the event be dropped from future Games. 10 great In total, 33 competitors failed to finish that year’s marathon due to the stifling heat. Their number included Shizo Kanaguri. However, the Japanese runner did not report his whereabouts afterwards, leading to a frantic and fruitless search. His disappearance became a standing joke in Olympic Sweden for years afterwards. Fifty years later, a Swedish journalist tracked down Kanaguri, who had become a geography teacher in Japan. Kanaguri was completely unaware of the interest his case had created. USTRALIAN rower Henry Pearce yarns was perhaps the most unlikely hero of the Amsterdam Games in 1928. A Already counted among the favourites, Pearce showed a concern for matters beyond the sporting during his quarter-final in the single sculls event. Games. The even more controversial General the American shrugged off those adversities. MIL ZATOPEK’S triple triumph at the Powering up the course, Pearce suddenly George Patton was a participant in the After all, he had triumphed against greater 1952 Games in Helsinki – when he won became aware that a family of ducks was pentathlon in 1912, when it is said he got into odds in the past. the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon swimming into his path. A more cynical a typically bitter argument in the shooting Born in Switzerland and educated in E(the first he had ever run) in the space competitor would have ploughed on, but the event. Princess Anne took part in the France, Williams’ early promise brought of eight days – is perhaps the greatest animal-loving rower eased off to allow the eventing competition at Montreal in 1976, an offer of a tennis scholarship from individual feat in Olympic history. However, ducks to pass. His compassion cost him a few when it was reported that she was the only Harvard University in 1912. Soon the Czech distance specialist had shown his seconds, but he still won his way through to female competitor who did not have to go afterwards, he set off across the Atlantic – potential four years earlier, when he took the final. His subsequent gold medal was one through a gender test. on the Titanic. gold at 10,000m in the 1948 London Games. of the most popular triumphs of the Games. One step removed, John B Kelly, father of When the ship went down, Williams Zatopek’s trademark was a crushing Hollywood legend Grace, won two rowing and his father were plunged into the water. injection of pace. Time and again, he turned OHNNY WEISMULLER, the most golds at the 1920 games in Antwerp. He never saw his father again. Williams up the heat on his opponents, lapping all but famous screen Tarzan, won five gold found a place with 30 others in a lifeboat, two as he left the field strewn far in his wake. medals at the 1924 and 1928 Games. ICHARD NORRIS WILLIAMS was but it was swamped by waist-deep freezing However, he also left Games officials JHowever, he is far from alone as a 33 years old and suffering from a water and only 11 survived. floundering, and they called the final circuit celebrity with Olympic connections. sprained ankle when he partnered After his rescue, a doctor recommended one lap too soon. Zatopek realised their error Controversial childcare guru Dr Benjamin RHazel Wightman to gold in the the amputation of both his legs. Williams and completed the full distance, but other Spock was a rowing competitor at the 1924 tennis mixed doubles in 1924. However, died in 1968 at the ripe old age of 77. runners were not so aware of the situation. heraldscotland.com 25.07.12 THE HERALD july 25-august 12 23

Johnny Weismuller is perhaps best known for his performance as Tarzan on the silver screen, but he also picked up five Olympic gold medals. Picture: 1924 Getty Images }Zatopek’s trademark was a crushing injection of pace, which left not only his rivals but also left Games officials floundering, as they called the final circuit one lap too soon

While they got the medal order right, the NYONE who remembers the 1986 Two Uruguayans were banned for the rest hapless officials admitted that they could World Cup in Mexico will appreciate of the competition. The pair turned up for not declare an order of finishers beyond that Uruguayan team sports can the third-place ceremony but were forced A sometimes have a roughhouse to hand back their medals after officials eighth place. dimension. Yet what happened on the spotted them there. HE 1956 water polo contest between football field in 1986 was handbags-at-dawn the Soviet Union and Hungary had an in comparison to what the Uruguayan HE build-up to the Melbourne opening interesting backdrop, as the former basketball team got up to at the Helsinki ceremony in 1956 was hijacked by a T had just invaded the latter. “It wasn’t Olympics in 1952. Tstudent prankster who staged a fake water polo,” said one Hungarian player. Their most brutal performance came torch relay. The “torch” was a tin can “It was a boxing match underwater.” in a semi-final match against France. mounted on a broom handle, its flame The aggrieved Hungarians reportedly won A number of Uruguayan players already provided by a pair of underpants soaked in the fight – and took the match 4-0, as well. had been sent off when a late score gave kerosene. Barry Larkin, a 21-year-old Appropriately enough, it was covered France a 68-66 victory – at which point veterinary student, was so convincing that (for the Daily Mail) by Harry Carpenter, mayhem erupted. The entire South American he was given a police escort for the final part who memorably described the pool, in which team laid into the referee, who was of his run. He then handed the “torch” to blood could be seen clearly, as “a bubbling subsequently carried from the court with the city mayor, who launched into his lengthy cauldron of spite.” head injuries after being helped by the police. welcome speech.