July is going to be a big month for the Scott family from Strathaven.  Douglas, about to celebrate his 18th birthday, and his 15-year-old sister, Corrie, will be competing for GB at the European Junior Championships in Prague. Both expect it to be a major stepping-stone towards even greater swimming glory. 

Douglas has already shown his ability to compete at world level, winning a golden double of the 50m and 100m breaststroke titles at last November’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in India. Now he hopes for more of the same in his three disciplines – the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke – in the Czech Republic.

“I swam at last year’s European Juniors in Serbia, but I was ill going into the championships and didn’t do as well as I hoped,” he reflected. “Even at the Youth games, I was a little disappointed with my times.  So I really want to swim well in Prague, and I’ll definitely be aiming for medals.”

Having just completed his sixth year at Strathaven Academy, Douglas has already secured a place to study maths and economics at Stirling University. He hopes to make the move complete by gaining inclusion in the relatively new Intensive Training Centre swimming squad based at the campus under coach Rob Greenwood.

“I have had my trial and hope to be included,” continued Douglas, who is relishing the prospect of joining the squad that already includes Olympian Andy Hunter and World Championship hopeful, Lewis Smith.  “I know it is a good set-up and it will offer the chance to train regularly in a 50m pool.”

Douglas and Corrie, who is in the middle of her Standard Grade exams, both started swimming with the East Kilbride Club at a very young age and have been coached to their current high level by the experienced Andy Figgens. 

Dad – ALan – is also a regular at the training sessions, but he confesses: “I’m the slowest member of East Kilbride Club. But it’s good fun.” 

With the 50m Dollan Baths currently undergoing refurbishment, training is now spread between pools in Blantyre and at Hamilton College. It is hardly ideal. 

Competing at such a high level also demands great discipline. “I have nine pool sessions and another two in the gym every week,” reveals Douglas. “It takes up an awful lot of time, but it’s worth it. Corrie copied me – but it’s good for both of us.”

For Corrie, this is going to be her one and only European Junior event. She will be competing in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and she admitted: ” It’s going to be very tough in Prague. But I hope to make the finals and then see what happens.”

For both Scotts, the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next summer stand out as a major target. Then there are the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2014 Commonwealths in Glasgow.  They make up a tempting trio. 

“I would love to swim in an Olympics, and hopefully it could be in London,” says Corrie. “As for 2014 in Glasgow, that should be really great.”

EB
© Copyright In The Winning Zone, MMIX, All Rights Reserved