Scottish Student Swimming into the Commonwealth Games

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At the tender age of just 17, Lorna Smith a student at the Scottish Cardonald College, has been selected to represent Scotland as a swimmer at the XVIII Commonwealth Games. Lorna will join 166 other athletes in the squad travelling to Melbourne, Australia for the games, which commence on the 15th March 2006.

Lorna will be competing as part of the swimming team, in the medley event which involves several different swimming styles such as; breast-stroke, butterfly and back-stroke. She has been a keen swimmer from an early age, joining her first swimming club when she was just 10. Lorna is expected to be involved in both the 4 x 100 metre relay and 400 metre individual event.

Training Hard

Lorna, who travelled to Australia on 3rd March, has been training hard for the games sometimes swimming for as much as four hours a day. Added to her busy academic schedule at Cordonald College, where she is studying English and Geography, Lorna is certainly a lady of great determination and stamina. Lorna already has a good track record in swimming competitions, having already won two gold medals, a silver and two bronzes at the 2004 Commonwealth Youth games.

A delighted Lorna said: “For a while I couldn”t believe that I was going to the Commonwealth Games, it’s all just beginning to sink in now. I”ve had to sacrifice school work and late nights with my friends so that I could get up at 4.30am for training. However, I don”t really mind because I”ve been given a once in a lifetime chance to compete at the games.

“I want to be able to swim to the best of my ability and win a medal at senior level,” she continued. “My family and friends have been fantastic and I”ve had at least 20 good luck cards.”

Ros Micklem, Lorna’s Principal at Cardonald College, said: “We are absolutely delighted that one of our students is taking part in the Commonwealth Games. We wish Lorna the best of luck and hope she comes home with a medal for all her hard work. Lorna has such amazing dedication to her swimming but still manages to keep her studies up. Our fingers are crossed for her and the rest of her team mates at these games.”

Dan Atkinson

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