Cycling siblings Katie and John Archibald made history at the Anna Meares Velodrome on Friday as they became the first brother/sister pair to win medals for Team Scotland at the same Commonwealth Games.
Katie struck first, taking gold in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit before her brother collected silver in the men’s equivalent, the 4000m individual pursuit, on a stunning day for the family from Milngavie.
She said:“This feels overly special. It’s been a big target for some time to plant my name on an international stage. I have been national champion, European champion, but I really wanted this.
John said: “From six months ago to now has been a crazy journey so I’m really pleased. Eight or nine months ago I’d never touched a track bike. I stopped work and went full time into cycling in the last three or four months and gave everything towards it.
“Scottish Cycling backed me and gave me physio, nutrition, coaching – all the things you need to not worry about anything apart from your own performance. I’ve gone all blazing into it and luckily I’ve come away with something I’m really proud of.”
And in the pool the Scottish swimmers added three more medals to the two silvers won by Hannah Milry and Ross Murdoch on day one.
Mark Szaranek made an impressive Team Scotland debut winning silver in the men’s 400m IM.
“I am pretty happy; the goal was always to come in and try and win, but that is the fastest I have ever been, so I can’t really ask for much more,” he said.
“The conditions were exactly how I wanted them to be if I am honest. I wanted it to be rainy, I would have liked a bit more wind to put the other guys off but it was good fun out there racing in the rain. To race under these lights was amazing and this whole set-up that they have here is something else.”
Duncan Scott finished third in the men’s 200m freestyle. Scott was lying out of the medals with 50m to go, but showed his class to power home for the bronze.
“I have mixed emotions. I wanted more, but I know I should still be happy with that. It’s my first individual medal on a big stage so that alone is a massive positive,” Scott stated.
In the last final of the night, Scotland’s men made history, securing their first ever medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay. The quartet of Scott, Jack Thorpe, Kieran McGuckin and Stephen Milne all played a massive part in securing bronze.
McGuckin said: That was the first ever 4x100m free medal for Scotland at a Commonwealth Games and it’s a pretty special moment for us all.”
Milne added:“The mood in the camp is great and we’ve done pretty well so far, with quite a few medals in the pool and hopefully more to come. It’s great we are adding to the whole of Team Scotland on the medal table.”
Craig McLean, Scott McLay and Dan Wallace also received a medal for the key role they played in the heats.
After producing a personal best swim in the heats this morning, Toni Shaw fought hard all the way in the S9 100m Backstroke final,the youngster finishing fifth in 1:16.79.
And Team Scotland’s Beach Volleyball pairs secured their place in history on the Gold Coast with both the men and women winning their opening matches as the sport made its Commonwealth Games debut.
Scotland are fourth in the medal table with 10 medals.
Thanks to Team Scotland/Jeff Holmes for the photos