Gold Coast 2018: Solid weekend sees Team Scotland finish with 44 medals

Team Scotland had a solid weekend to finish on 44 medals as Gold Coast 2018 came to a close.

Before the 11 day Commonwealth Games in Australia, Scotland were looking for 30 medals to make it the best overseas Games ever.

And having already smashed through that target a few days before, over the weekend three more successes came.

Jake Wightman went one better than his fourth place finish in the 800m with a 1500m bronze on the final night of track and field on Saturday at the Carrara Stadium.

Crossing the line in 3.35.97, less than a second down on the winner, Wightman was delighted to win his first major medal.

“After missing out on a medal in the 800 I knew I had to come here and get one – I just trusted myself on the last lap,” he said.

“I knew the Kenya’s were going to be tough to beat and that it would probably be a scrap for bronze but I’m so glad it’s come off like it has. It’s definitely given me confidence that I can double up in the future too.”

Kirsty Gilmour landed bronze on the Gold Coast in the badminton women’s singles.

Kirsty Gilmour medal Team Scotland

She beat Canada’s Michelle Li to get third and said:  “This is overwhelming, a combination of happiness and relief. It was difficult as my semi-final was so close and I fought so hard,  I’ve never been in the position where I’ve had to go again.

“There was a lot going on in my head and it was a big challenge, so to be standing here now as bronze medallist is amazing.“

And on Sunday morning there was an outstanding performance from Robbie Simpson in that men’s marathon to claim a place on the podium.

Callum Hawkins, his team mate, had led the race for a long time before collapsing and stayed in hospital overnight Sunday into Monday as a precaution, but he is recovering.

Robbie Simpson marathon medal Team Scotland

 

On the overall Games, Scotland chef de mission Jon Doig said:  “When you look at these Games, the fact we’ve had medals across so many sports and medals coming in every day has been absolutely fantastic.

“It’s our best ever overseas games, we’re very, very happy. We can’t affect what other people do. All I can say is every athlete was fully committed, passionate and left nothing on the table when they were competing for Scotland.”

Thanks to Team Scotland/Jeff Holmes for the photos