SOME 50 years after his legendary grandfather won Scotland’s last diving medal, James Heatly won Scotland’s 31st medal of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, claiming bronze in the Men’s 1m Springboard.
His grandfather Sir Peter Heatly, who died in 2015, won gold in the 10m high diving event in Cardiff in 1958 before going on to a distinguished career in sports administration.
James said after his medal-clinching dive: “My grandfather was my inspiration and he’s the reason I’m doing this today.” Mike Whittingham, sportscotland Director of High Performance, added: “Congratulations to James on a fantastic performance and his bronze medal win.
“We are seeing something quite special from Team Scotland athletes out in Gold Coast and this is another moment for the nation to be proud of.
“His success is also a reflection of the current strength of diving in Scotland at all levels, thanks in part, to recent investment in diving infrastructure, including the Royal Commonwealth Pool and the Aberdeen Sports Village.”
Team Scotland achieved their target of 30 medals in the early hours of the morning BST when 21-year-old David McMath won Scotland’s seventh gold in the double trap shooting after Linda Pearson, 54, won bronze in the women’s version of the same event.
Paralympic bronze medallist Maria Lyle won bronze in the T35 100m sprint on the track before Heatly added his bronze to take the total to 32 with two more medals guaranteed after boxers Reece McFadden and John Docherty made it into the boxing semi-finals.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said: “Once again Team Scotland has delivered on the global stage with a string of sensational performances surpassing our best ever performance at an away Games in the Gold Coast.
“We are thrilled for each and every one of them who have brought home a medal.”
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