Donna Robertson is accustomed to seeing double. But she has her sights set on a unique double in Delhi next year - winning a Commonwealth medal in wrestling to add to the bronze she achieved in judo in Auckland in 1990.

It is a two-pronged assault as her twin sister Fiona, who also struck Commonwealth bronze in judo, but in Manchester  in 2002, is also seeking the same goal.

Unlike in judo, when they were competing in the same weight category, the Hamilton sisters are in different weight groups in their new sport, giving both a chance to achieve their aim.

At 40, time is not on their side, but the sisters have had a strong work ethic from an early age and believe they are as fit as ever and are even targeting Glasgow 2014.

“We have always been competing with each other from an early age when we were taking part in judo competitions ,” Donna points out.

“But we also spur each other on in training and it helps in the weights gym and when we’re out running.  I think we bring out the best in each other.

“We’re also there for each other when things go wrong and we’ve both had knee surgery and have helped each other through the rehab.”

Both were winding down their judo careers when the chance came to transfer to wrestling 18 months ago, a sport which has some similarities but the technical side of the sports is very different.

"I'd really finished competing at judo and was concentrating more on coaching and we had some sessions at the Palace of Arts in Glasgow where wrestling was setting up its base,” Donna explains.

"They were keen to get more girls involved in their sport and wanted to set up a women's team with a view to competing in Delhi for the first time and also in Glasgow in 2014.

"There are a few girls who have now switched over sports and there are now four weight categories for women's wrestling in London 2012.

"It was just a case of thinking that it was now or never. I'd always kept myself very fit but this was a new challenge.

"I knew I wasn't getting any younger but you build up a resilience over the years of training and I feel as fit now as I ever have.

"Technique-wise, it is a lot different. There was maybe a temptation in the early days to revert to judo if you were ever under pressure during a match but you soon realise that you lose points and it will not help you in the long run.

"Of course, there are similarities psychology-wise as it's one versus one, the same as judo, so much of the same applies as you're trying to overcome an opponent and you're looking at their strengths and weaknesses.

"Obviously, you think about injuries when you‘re still competing at this age - I had an ACL injury and had to get my knee reconstructed but I came through rehab okay and I was back competing within seven or eight months.

"There are not so many big throws in wrestling compared to judo and it's more leg attacks and I think that’s better for me at this stage.”

Scottish Wrestling has taken on Ukrainian Volodymyr Gladkov as their new head coach and he has agreed to stay on until 2014.

It is an ambitious move but the governing body wants to hold its own when Scotland hosts the Commonwealth Games again in little over four years.

"We had a training camp in Ukraine in August and there was a lot of hill running and I was pleased that I was as strong as some of the younger wrestlers,” Donna goes on.

"It was a tough camp and we ran up Ukraine's highest mountains and we were working with some good local wrestlers. We didn't realise it at the time but we were working out with wrestlers who were at European Championship and World Championship level.

"He's not like a typical eastern European coach and is very passionate about the sport. He's very hands-on and will do a lot of one-to-one coaching and also work in groups.

"He has added a new dimension to the Scottish wrestlers and he has different ideas which can only help us when we compete at international level.”

Her most pressing engagement is the Commonwealth Championships in Jalandhar, India, from December 17-20 which is an important event.

"It's a qualifying event for next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi and it would take a lot of pressure off if I qualified as I could then map out my year. You have to finish in the top eight which I believe is achievable.

"Otherwise, the next qualifying event is not until May and that is not long before the Games so you would have that uncertainty hanging over you.”

RM
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