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The Courier & AdvertiserMonday, July21, 2014

C O M M O N W E A LT H G A M E Scompetitors from Kuala Lumpur toCambuslang will have been counting downto Glasgow 2014 like children tearing doorsoff an advent calendar.

For Eilish McColgan though, the dayshave been crossed off all too quickly.

It’s not that the Dundee Hawkhill Harrierhas got all blasé about a home Games.The exact opposite. Wednesday July 30 atHampden Park will be a career highlight forMcColgan. Possibly, the career highlight.

It’s more the fact that the middledistance runner lost four months toa mystery illness earlier this year,and because of it, the 3,000msteeplechase will come at leasta month too soon for her to bein peak condition.

In fact, McColganadmitted that had it notbeen for one particularevening in the south sideof Glasgow, she mayalready have beenturning her thoughtsto the 2015 season.

“ E ve r y b o d y ’sbeen counting downto the Games,” said the23-year-old. “If they’d been somewhereelse I might have backed off a bit andjust tried to get back running August,September time and concentrate onpreparation for theWorlds next year.

“But with it being in Glasgow that’snot an option. It’s something I’vewanted to be a part of since the bid waswon.”

McColgan is no stranger to injury,having had her career put in jeopardy bya fractured foot. But illness has provedan even more frustrating experience thanbroken bones.

She explained: “I got some sort of virusin my blood when I was in Kenya at thestart of the year for a training camp. Itreally knocked me back.

“Itwasupanddown.Iwouldfeel finefora couple of days, then be unwell again.The

doctors couldn’t diagnose what it actuallywas. In a way I’d rather have been injuredbecause that’s easier to deal with.You knowhow long it should take to come back and

“With illness and being so fatigued, there

“I must have had 100 blood tests. It wasnon-stop. Fortunately now my blood testsshow everything is where it should be andI’ve been able to crack on with training.

“Until June I hadn’t raced sinceSeptember, which was a big jump. UsuallyI would have had an indoor season and early

races inApril and May, but I couldn’t dothat. In May I was really down and

“I’ve been playing catch-up.My mum (Liz McColgan-

Nuttall) and I, and my physio,havechangedsomany thingsover the last few months.It’s been a bit of trial and

error really. Everybody’sworked really hard to

get me back and I’mreally grateful tothem for putting upwith me!

“I’ll be proudwhen I stand onthe track becauseI’ll know howhard it has been to

get there. It mightnot be at the level I’d

hopedtobeatbut I’vedoneeverythingIcan.“I’m improving all the time, which

excites me. I’ve been running out of days. Ifit had been postponed for a month it wouldhave suited me more. You can’t stop time

In the middle of McColgan’s illness Lizrelocated to Qatar. The coach and pupilrelationship of mother and daughter has not

“It’sbeenmadeevenmoredifficult formymum in Doha,” McColgan pointed out.

“She can’t see how I am. It’s made mea bit more attentive because I need to giveSp

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Eilish’s mother Liz (then Lynch),celebrates after winning the10,000m at MeadowbankStadium in 1986.Picture: SNS Group.

Eilish’s battle just to get to start lineIf EilishMcColganemulatesmotherLizbywinning amedal at a home

CommonwealthGames, therewon’t beamoreromanticstory toldoverthe11daysof competition.But, asCourierSports EditorEricNicolson discovered in aninterviewwith theCarnoustiesteeplechaser, liningupon theHampdenPark track isan achievement in itself.

C O M M O N W E A LT H G A M E Scompetitors from Kuala Lumpur toCambuslang will have been counting downto Glasgow 2014 like children tearing doorsoff an advent calendar.

For Eilish McColgan though, the dayshave been crossed off all too quickly.

It’s not that the Dundee Hawkhill Harrierhas got all blasé about a home Games.The exact opposite. Wednesday July 30 atHampden Park will be a career highlight forMcColgan. Possibly, the career highlight.

It’s more the fact that the middledistance runner lost four months toa mystery illness earlier this year,and because of it, the 3,000msteeplechase will come at leasta month too soon for her to bein peak condition.

In fact, McColganadmitted that had it notbeen for one particularevening in the south sideof Glasgow, she mayalready have beenturning her thoughtsto the 2015 season.

“ E ve r y b o d y ’sbeen counting downto the Games,” said the23-year-old. “If they’d been somewhereelse I might have backed off a bit andjust tried to get back running August,September time and concentrate onpreparation for theWorlds next year.

“But with it being in Glasgow that’snot an option. It’s something I’vewanted to be a part of since the bid was

McColgan is no stranger to injury,having had her career put in jeopardy bya fractured foot. But illness has provedan even more frustrating experience than

She explained: “I got some sort of virusin my blood when I was in Kenya at thestart of the year for a training camp. Itreally knocked me back.

“Itwasupanddown.Iwouldfeel finefora couple of days, then be unwell again.The

doctors couldn’t diagnose what it actuallywas. In a way I’d rather have been injuredbecause that’s easier to deal with.You knowhow long it should take to come back andwhat you need to do.

“With illness and being so fatigued, therewas nothing I could do.

“I must have had 100 blood tests. It wasnon-stop. Fortunately now my blood testsshow everything is where it should be andI’ve been able to crack on with training.

“Until June I hadn’t raced sinceSeptember, which was a big jump. UsuallyI would have had an indoor season and early

races inApril and May, but I couldn’t dothat. In May I was really down and

struggling.“I’ve been playing catch-up.

My mum (Liz McColgan-Nuttall) and I, and my physio,havechangedsomany thingsover the last few months.It’s been a bit of trial and

error really. Everybody’sworked really hard to

get me back and I’mreally grateful tothem for putting upwith me!

“I’ll be proudwhen I stand onthe track becauseI’ll know howhard it has been to

get there. It mightnot be at the level I’d

hopedtobeatbut I’vedoneeverythingIcan.“I’m improving all the time, which

excites me. I’ve been running out of days. Ifit had been postponed for a month it wouldhave suited me more. You can’t stop timeunfortunately.”

In the middle of McColgan’s illness Lizrelocated to Qatar. The coach and pupilrelationship of mother and daughter has notbeen straightforward since.

“It’sbeenmadeevenmoredifficult formymum in Doha,” McColgan pointed out.

“She can’t see how I am. It’s made mea bit more attentive because I need to give

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ttle just to get to start linehermoredetails that Iwouldn’t thinkabout.”

Being the daughter of arguably Scotlandmost successful ever athlete has never fazedMcColgan jnr, even when she decided tofollowinherspikemarksandpursueacareerin athletics.

The iconic images of Liz (thenLynch) winning Commonwealth gold atMeadowbankstadiumback in1986,and thevivid memories Scots of a certain age haveof that day, have meant that the comparisonswith mum have been spoken and writtenabout more than ever in the build-up toGlasgow.

Eilish certainly appreciates the romanceof the story.

“It’s a nice thing,” she said.“People loved how my mum ran. It’s

always so positive when people speak abouther to me.You do realise it more when youcome home to Scotland.

“I always get people coming up to me andsay they used to watch mum running. A lotof themareshockedthat I’m23becausetheyremember it being in the papers when I wasborn.

“It does amaze me because athletics isn’ta high profile sport, but just by speakingto people you get an idea of how manypeople watched mum race that day and stillremember it.

“I don’t feel like it’s added pressure on methough.

“People outside the sport will maybe seethe name and think ‘her mum won gold soshe should win it’. But I don’t let that botherme.

“Regardless of how I perform this will besomething I’ll always remember.”

It might actually be Liz who comes overall sentimental during the Games.

“I thinkshe’llbeemotionalwith it,”Eilishadmitted. “She was OK at the Olympics butthere weren’t many expectations on me.She’ll want me to do well and she knowswhat I can do.

“It will bring back memories for her, plusshe knows how difficult the last year hasbeen for me. She’ll be proud to be there andbe part of it with me.

“She says to this day that Meadowbankwasherstand-outmoment—hearingpeopleshout out her name and waving all the flags.I’m sure memories will come floodingback.”

In many events, both in track and fieldandothersports, theCommonwealthGamesstandard is a greatly watered down versionof the Olympics, World Championships oreven European.

Eilish is one of the unlucky ones though.“People think that the Commonwealth

Games are thirdtier,” she pointedout. “But I keep tryingto explain to people thatit isn’t like that in my event.They think that’ll be easy, youshould win that! But, in reality, itwill be just as hard.

“I’m ranked fourth behind threeKenyans. First and second at the Olympicsand at theWorlds are in my race.

“Winning it is out with my realms, but I’dlike to think I’ve got a chance of contendingfor a medal.

“I was 10th in the world last year, but thetop eight wereAfrican.

“In other events if the Americans aren’tthere it makes a big difference.

“It won’t be flat out from the very startthough. It’s not like a Diamond Leaguerace where they’re trying to win moneyby beating records and getting bonuses.Glasgow will be all about racing.

“If you look back, times have been reallyslow at past Games. I’m very happy to behealthy, with all the complications I’ve had,andhopefullyIcangetnearmypersonalbestand be in amongst the race.”

The Games will feel like a graduationfor a core of Team Scotland track and fieldathletes, who have come through the rankstogether.

McColgan explained: “There are a few ofus who have grown up in athletics togetherfrom the 2008Youth Olympics — myself,Chris O’Hare, Lynsey Sharp, Myra Perkins.There aren’t many athletes who make thetransition from junior to senior, so to get somanyatGlasgowisanachievement in itself.

“There were loads of us in Team GB.There’s only 58 of us in the Scottish team.We support our own in Scotland. I think thepublicwillbemoreawareofwhotheathletesare and look out for them.

“To be a Scottish athlete in a Scottishstadium in front of a Scottish crowd issomething I don’t want to miss out on.

“Myfamilyneverusuallyget towatchmebecause my big races are abroad. My littlesister, my three brothers, my dad, my uncleand my cousins — they’ve all managed toget tickets for my night.

“My brothers and sister have never seenme compete before.

“I was so happy when I finished 10th intheWorlds last year. It was the best momentof my career so far, but I was in Russia andthere was nobody in the crowd.

“I’ve tried not to think about it too much,but I know it will be special to have so manypeople wanting me to do well.”

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The Courier & AdvertiserMonday, July21, 2014

GlasgowAirport

M77

A74

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Paisley

Clydebank

East Kilbride

Hamilton

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Kelvingrove LawnBowls Centre

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SECC Precinct11

Ibrox Stadium:

7 Hampden ParkClosing Ceremony

Emirates Arena &Velodrome

5

Strathclyde Country Park13

Royal Commonwealth Pool10

Scotstoun Sports Campus12

Glasgow NationalHockey Centre

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Celtic ParkOpening Ceremony

4

Athletes’ Village1

Barry BuddonShooting Centre

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3 Cathkin BraesMountain Bike Park

SCOTLAND

Glasgow 10

2Dundee

Edinburgh

The Friendly Games: This summer’s CommonwealthGames will bring thousands of elite athletes fromaround the world together to compete in 18 differentsports across the 11 days of competition

14 Tollcross SwimmingCentre

Barry BuddonShooting CentreAll Glasgow 2014 shooting eventswill take place at the Barry BuddonShooting Centre, which sits withinthe Ministry of Defense’s trainingcamp at Carnoustie.

The shooting events are to be locatedin a combination of existing andtemporary international standardranges allowing spectators toexperience all the shooting events onone site.

Celtic ParkOpening CeremonyOn July 23 this is where athletesfrom throughout the Commonwealthcommunity will celebrate theirjourney to the Games and officiallybegin their 11-day quest for victory.Celtic Park is located next to theAthletes’ Village, making it idealfor athletes attending the openingceremony in the stadium.

Emirates Arena including SirChris Hoy VelodromeCycling and BadmintonThe Emirates Arena and adjoiningSir Chris Hoy Velodrome in the EastEnd of Glasgow form one of themost versatile structures of its kindin Europe. Located alongside theAthletes’ Village, they have quicklybecome a city landmark, with morethan 10,000 people passing throughtheir doors on opening weekend.

Hampden ParkAthleticsAt one time the world’s largeststadium, Glasgow’s famous HampdenPark will play host to the track andfield athletics competitions and theclosing ceremony.Home to Scottish football it has

been transformed into an athleticsarena, with the playing surface raisedby 1.9 metres from this site into themain stadium.

Tollcross InternationalSwimming CentreSwimmingThe venue is owned by Glasgow CityCouncil and has been extensivelyrefurbished and extended. Theexisting 50 metre, 10-lane pool hasbeen joined by a new 50m, six-lanewarm-up and training pool, ensuringworld-class facilities for the Games.The re-development at Tollcross

International Swimming Centrewill provide a permanent trainingand recreational facility for thelocal community and elite athletesalike, as well as a venue for majorinternational swimming competitions.

Ibrox StadiumRugby Sevens

All three of Glasgow’s footballcathedrals are being put to use forthe Games. Built in 1899, the homeof Rangers Football Club, with its

stands close to the pitch, will be anatmospheric venue for the weekendof Rugby Sevens on July 26 and 27.

The transformationof a renownedfootball stadiuminto an athleticsarena. SNS Group.

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The Courier &Advertiser Monday, July 21, 2014 5The Courier & AdvertiserMonday, July21, 2014

Aquatics

Athletics

Badminton

Boxing

Cycling

Gymnastics

Hockey

Judo

Lawn Bowls

Netball

Rugby Sevens

Shooting

Squash

Table Tennis

Triathlon

Weightlifting

Wrestling

23 24 25 26 27 1 2 3

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Medal events

Venue

Competition schedule

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Thursday July 24: Inverurieswimmer Hannah Miley carriedTeam GB’s medal hopes onday one of the Olympics in the400m individual medley. She’lldo the same for Scotland inGlasgow.

Thursday July 24: EuanBurton hopes to sign off his judocareer, and make up for Olympicheartbreak, with gold in theunder-100k weight division.

Friday July 25: Dundee’sSian Bruce is on home turf inthe shooting at Barry Buddon.She competes in the clay targetskeet.

sunday July 27: Mo Farahruns in the 5,000m final, andwill follow it up the followingweek in the 10,000m.

Tuesday July 29:Milnathort’s Laura Muir will bea genuine medal hope in the1,500m if she makes it throughto the final.

Wednesday July 30:Eilish McColgan attempts toemulate mother Liz by winning aCommonwealth medal. She runsin the 3,000m steeplechase.

Thursday July 31: Kinross-shire’s Eilidh Child is one of

Scotland’s best hopes for goldon the track in the 400mhurdles.

FridayaugusT 1: Thereare several hockey players fromTayside in the women’s squad. Ifthey get out of their group theywill have a semi-final on thisday.

sundayaugusT 3: SirBradley Wiggins (England) andDavid Millar (Scotland) wereteam-mates at the OlympicGames but are expected to beopponents in the Glasgow roadrace.k

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Ian Stewart and LizLynch on their way togold in 1970 and 1986.Pictures: Getty Images.

In a few days,Scotland will host the

Commonwealth Gamesfor the third time since the

event began in 1930.and this time, the country’s

largest city, Glasgow, will begiven the chance to shine.

On the previous two occasions,athletes descended on Edinburgh in1970 and 1986 for what would be twovastly differing experiences on Scottishsoil.

Scotland’s capital city beatChristchurch in new Zealand to be thehost city in 1970 in what would be aGames of many firsts.

as well as taking place in Scotlandfor the first time, metric units, ratherthan imperial units, made their debut,while electronic photo-finish technol-ogy was employed for the first time too.

In what was the ninth Games, it wasalso the first time the Queen attended in

her capacity as head of the Common-wealth and that the name ‘the BritishCommonwealth Games’ was used.

The multi-sport event was initiallyknown as the British Empire Games,then the British Empire and Com-monwealth Games and was given itscurrent title of the CommonwealthGames in 1978.

a total of 42 nations took part in121 events in nine sports between July16-25, with Scotland ranking fourth inthe medals table.

The host nation claimed 25 med-als overall – six gold, eight silver and11 bronze. Highlights included IanStewart’s gold in the 5,000 metres, withhis brother Peter coming fourth in thesame race.

Lachie Stewart (no relation) alsosealed an impressive win for the Scotsin the 10,000 metres, when he beat offstrong competition from the favourite,

australian Ron Clarke.The Games were hailed as a success

and Edinburgh became the first city tostage the event twice when they wereagain awarded host status in 1986.

But, 16 years on, it was set to be avery different experience.

Dubbed ‘The Boycott Games’, theoccasion will unfortunately be bestremembered for a large politicalboycott that was the result of theThatcher government’s position onapartheid.

The stance on British sporting linkswith an apartheid-era South africaat that time led to 32 of the 59 coun-tries eligible to take part boycotting theGames, with mainly african, asian andCaribbean states putting on a no-show.

From July 24 to august 2, 26 nationsdid take part — including the Maldivesand norfolk Island, who made theirfirst appearance at the Games — with

1,662 athletes participating in total.It was the lowest number of athletes

since the 1950 Games.Lack of participation led to a number

of financial issues, including a drop inthe value of broadcasting rights and adrop in sponsorship.

The 1986 Games subsequentlyspiralled into heavy debts, which werenot cleared until 1989, with the Cityof Edinburgh losing approximately£500,000.

There were 10 sports in the secondEdinburgh edition — athletics, aquat-ics, badminton, boxing, cycling, lawnbowls, rowing, shooting, weightliftingand wresting.

In the lawn bowls event, Scotland’sWillie Wood was one of several partici-pants excluded for breaking amateur-ism rules.

But Dundee’s Liz Lynch — later tobe known as Liz McColgan – raisedScottish spirits by claiming gold in the

10,000 metres.Her victory was one

of three claimed by theScots, who also secured12 silver and 18 bronzeprizes to rank sixth inthe medal table withan overall haul of 33medals.

In September 2004,Glasgow was announcedas the Scottish candidatecity over Edinburgh forthe 2014 Games, despitethe capital’s previousexperience.

Halifax, in Canada,dropped out of therunning, leavingtheScotsto battle it out with thenigerian capital abujafor the honour.

The bid proved to bea success when Glasgowwas confirmed as the hostcity in november 2007 –giving Glaswegians theopportunity to step out ofthe shadow of Edinburghand enjoy their own bigmoment.

Ian Stewart and LizLynch on their way togold in 1970 and 1986.Pictures: Getty Images.

Scottish spirits by claiming gold in the

prizes to rank sixth inthe medal table withan overall haul of 33medals.

Glasgow was announcedas the Scottish candidatecity over Edinburgh forthe 2014 Games, despitethe capital’s previousexperience.

dropped out of therunning, leavingtheScotsto battle it out with thenigerian capital abujafor the honour.

a success when Glasgowwas confirmed as the hostcity in november 2007 –giving Glaswegians theopportunity to step out ofthe shadow of Edinburghand enjoy their own bigmoment.

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Battle for medalsBY THE time Usain Bolt sets foot inHampden Park, the track and field storyof these Games will have been written.

The world’s fastest man and six-time Olympic champion will racein the 4x100m relay, but other thanbeing able to tell the grandchildrenyou saw the great man in the flesh, insporting terms his fleeting appearancein Glasgow will be relativelyinsignificant.

The relay takes place on the secondlast day of the Games, and there willhave been far more interesting medalbattles fought out before it.

In fact, Bolt’s absence from theindividual 100m and 200m will makefor more open races, especially withhis out-of-form training partner YohanBlake skipping the Games altogether.

Bolt might not be giving Glasgowhis full attention, but Mo Farah is.

Farah will bid for the triple double,looking to add Commonwealth goldover 5,000m and 10,000m to the pairof world titles he won last year and theOlympic triumphs the year before.

He is back on the track after a less-than-successful venture into marathonrunning — his eighth-placed finish inLondon in April was not the reward hewas looking for from months of hardtraining for his debut over 26.2 miles— but will have to make sure he is backto his best to see off the challenge ofhis Kenyan rivals.

Farah’s fellow, less celebrated, cham-pion from that glorious Super Saturdaynight at the Olympics, long jumper

Greg Rutherford, joins him in theE n g l a n dteam andwill relisha n o t h e rbig-stadi-um atmos-phere.

The thirdmember ofGreat Brit-ain’s goldent r i u m v i -rate, and theposter girlof London2012, hep-tathlete Jes-sica Ennis-Hill, will bewatching onTV as sheawaits the

birth of her first child, but theGames will feature the athletebilled as her successor.

Katarina Johnson-Thompsonwould be a worthy one too and is inpole position to take Commonwealthgold in the absence of her illustriouscompatriot.

The 21-year-old from Liverpoolis the world No 1 after her victory inGotzis, the unofficial world cham-pionship, in May when she set a newpersonal best of 6682 points.

Despite her tender years, she haslong since grown used to the Ennis-Hill comparisons and has the person-ality to cope with them, according toNeil Black, the performance director ofBritish Athletics.

Johnson-Thompson proved shecould handle pressure when she thrivedat London 2012 aged just 19, but forothers Glasgow offers the chance to laysome Olympic ghosts to rest.

As far as Scotland is concerned,Glasgow has the potential of being themost successful Games in a generation.

The stated aim of director ofcoaching Stephen Maguire is “morethan two” medals.

Scotland only won two in each of thethree previous Games — 400m hurdlerEilidh Child and 1,500m runner StephTwell in Delhi; hurdlers Chris Baillieand Lee McConnell in Melbourne; andMcConnell (in the flat 400) and decath-lete Jamie Quarry in Manchester.

So Maguire’s isn’t playing safe withhis target.

It would be a shock if former PerthGrammar School teacher Child doesn’tget another medal, and it could even begold.

And another ex-pupil of KinrossHigh School, Laura Muir, has beenbreaking Scottish records of late and isdoubling up in the 1500m and 800m.

She’ll have fellow Scot — andEuropean champion — Lynsey Sharpfor competition in the 800, and thathead-to-head could be one of thehighlights of the Games.

Eilish McColgan is an outside betfor a medal in the 3000m steeple-chase, while Chris O’Hare and GuyLearmonth are also rapidly improvingathletes.

A little sprinkling of Bolt star-dust isno bad thing, but there will be plenty toenthral on the track while we wait forhim to arrive. Th

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hopefulsLaura Muir,above, and

KatarinaJohnson-

Thompson.Pictures: Getty

Images.

night at the Olympics, long jumperGreg Rutherford, joins him in the

E n g l a n dteam andwill relisha n o t h e rbig-stadi-um atmos-phere.

member ofGreat Brit-ain’s goldent r i u m v i -rate, and theposter girlof London2012, hep-tathlete Jes-sica Ennis-Hill, will bewatching onTV as sheawaits the

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two minutes at London 2012 but theEdinburgh-based judoka has wipedaway the tears and is intent on securingspectacular redemption by claiming goldin front of his home fans in Glasgow before— he insists — he will retire from the sportfor good.

DAVID CALVERT (NIrl)Full-bore rifle shooter Calvert will makehis unprecedented 10th CommonwealthGames appearance for Northern Irelandin Glasgow. Calvert, who went to his firstGames in Edmonton, Canada in 1978, isalready the Games’ most decorated athletewith four gold medals and four bronze.

JAZZ CARLIN (Wal)Carlin is hoping to complete her full setof Commonwealth Games medals aftercoming so close in Delhi. The Swansea23-year-old was pipped into silver in thewomen’s 200m freestyle and bronze in the400m freestyle. A British title double inApril has left her in good shape to succeed.

EILIDH CHILD (Sco)The 400m hurdles star is relying on the so-called ‘Hampden Roar’ to sweep her to goldin her home stadium after being pipped intosilver four years ago. Since that success inDelhi Child has evolved into a world-classathlete and finished fifth after qualifying forlast year’s World Championships final inMoscow.

ALED DAVIES (Wal)Davies is one of the stars as Paralympicevents are included in the full Gamesprogramme for the first time. The Bridgendathlete won discus gold and shot puttbronze at London 2012, and added doublegold at last year’s World Championships inLyon, making him the man to beat.

MO FARAH (Eng)Farah will be one of the biggest draws inGlasgow after confirming his intention to

London 2012. Jamieson pipped his mainrival Adam Peaty at the British InternationalMeet in Manchester last month and theyare set for another fascinating showdown.

KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON(Eng)Already anointed heir to British heptathlongreats Denise Lewis and Jessica Ennis,the Liverpool 21-year-old has her sightsset firmly on gold in Glasgow. Johnson-Thompson is ready for the next stepafter following up a creditable 15thplace in London with fifth at the WorldChampionships in Moscow last year.

SIR BRADLEYWIGGINS (Eng)Wiggins is set to shrug off thedisappointment of missing out on a placein this year’s Tour de France by taking tothe track in Glasgow. Wiggins has won sixmedals over three Olympic Games andappears to see the Commonwealth Gamesas part of his natural path back to trackcycling for Rio 2016.

8 Monday, July 21, 2014 The Courier &Advertiser

PADDYBARNES (NIrl)The irrepressible Belfast boxer is aiming toadd a second consecutive CommonwealthGames gold medal after triumphing in Delhiin 2010. Barnes, also a two-time Olympicbronze medallist, could come up againstEngland’s Charlie Edwards in what wouldbe one of the bouts of the Games.

EUAN BURTON (Sco)Burton’s Olympic dream lasted all of

compete at the Games. The double Olympicchampion will bid to do another doubleover 5,000m and 10,000m distancesas he returns to the track in the wake ofhis relative disappointment in this year’sLondon Marathon.

MICHAEL JAMIESON (Sco)Glasgow swimmer Jamieson will be roaredon in the pool as he bids to build on hisglorious 200m breaststroke silver medal at

The Courier & AdvertiserMonday, July21, 2014

USAIN BOLT (Jam)Bolt gave Glasgow the news it had beenhoping for this month when he declaredhis availability for the Jamaican 4x100mrelay team for the Games. Bolt’sparticipation in his first CommonwealthGames had been in doubt due to a footinjury, and he will not compete in eitherof the individual sprint events.

DAVID RUDISHA (Ken)The Kenyan Olympic and world800m champion will be one of thebig attractions in Glasgow and he hasdeclared his intention to aim for adouble of both 800m and 4x400m relaygold. Rudisha is recovering from a longinjury lay-off after becoming the firstman to break one minute 41 seconds atLondon 2012.

PINKA JANGRA (Ind)Five-time world champion Mary Komwas expected to provide the biggestthreat to Nicola Adams as women’sboxing makes its Games debut. ButKom suffered a major shock in theIndian trials when she was defeated by19-year-old Pinki Jangra, who will nowhead to Glasgow eyeing an even moremomentous upset.

SALLY PEARSON (Aus)Olympic champion Pearson representsAustralia’s best hope of athletics gold inthe 100m hurdles. The Queenslander,who will defend the title she won inDelhi in four years ago, has had afar from ideal build-up due to injuryconcerns, but will be intent on addinganother gold to her collection.

SHELLY-ANN FRASER-PRYCE (Jam)Like her compatriot Bolt, Fraser-Prycewill only compete in the 4x100m relayin Glasgow after exempting herself fromthe Jamaican trials on medical grounds.But the sight of the world and doubleOlympic 100m champion stormingaround the Hampden Park track will givethe fans great consolation.

ALICIA COUTTS (Aus)The Australian swimming star sweptthe board with five gold medals in Delhiand will be aiming to repeat the featin another hectic schedule in Glasgow.Coutts, who also won five medalsincluding relay gold at London 2012, isexpected to face stiff competition in ahigh-quality freestyle line-up.

NICOL DAVID (Mal)The all-conquering Malaysian squashgreat will return to defend the title shewon in Delhi but despite winning sevenWorld Open titles she has a point toprove after falling in this year’s worldsemi-finals. Her main rival will beEngland’s Laura Massaro, the reigningworld champion.

ANNA MEARES (Aus)Olympic champion and four-timeCommonwealth Games gold medallist,the Australian track cycling star islooking to return to the top aftersurprisingly failing to win a gold medalat the World Championships in Colombiaearlier this year. Meares neverthelessremains the racer to beat.

RICHARD MURRAY (Rsa)Most eyes might be on the Brownleebrothers, but South African worldnumber four Richard Murray will providea big threat to England’s hopes of asibling one-two. Murray has produced aconsistent series of results this seasonincluding second place at the WorldTriathlon Series in London.

GILLIES KAKA (Nzl)New Zealand’s bid to charge to anotherCommonwealth Games rugby sevensgold medal has been boosted by theemergence of Kaka, who has displacedveteran Tomasi Cama in the All Blackssquad and whose performances will bekey if they are to wrap up an expectedfifth consecutive Games gold.St

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Above:judokaEuanBurtonand left:Sir BradleyWiggins.GettyImages.

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