SCOTLAND’S Commonwealth Games stars were welcomed home yesterday after their record-breaking success in Australia.
Friends and families gathered at Glasgow Airport to greet athletes and support staff, who were piped into the arrival area.
Scotland’s haul of 44 medals was their best return from an overseas Games. Six of them came from swimmer Duncan Scott, who became Scotland’s most decorated athlete at a single Games.
However, the 20-year-old said his feet will remain on the ground as he has exams to sit next month for his sports studies course at Stirling University.
Scott said: “The night before I swim I turn off all social media and then after I finish competing it’s a day or two before I turn it on, so I’ve gradually been seeing all the messages come in and all the hype.
“The support I’ve always had from family and friends, and beyond that, has been amazing. Maybe a few more people in the airport recognised me but, beyond that, it’s been the same.”
Scott joked: “My flatmate has been away, so I’ll be going back to a freezing flat. It will just be the same, I have an exam in three weeks so it will be back to my usual life.”
Diver James Heatly, who followed in the footsteps of his grandfather by winning a medal in the men’s 1m springboard, said: “It’s nice to be back after that long flight and to come back with this medal is incredible.
“I can’t put it into words and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone.
“My phone has just been going off so I have a lot of messages to get back to.”
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