The wait is over.
For a lot of, it has been 4 years within the making. For others, it is a life-long dream come true.
The 2022 Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham get underway at present and sports activities followers have 12 action-packed days of competitors to sit up for.
From seaside volleyball to weightlifting, netball to badminton and gymnastics to swimming, it's set to be an excellent showcase of sporting excellence.
Lanarkshire will likely be well-represented on the Video games and, right here, we profile 15 of the native stars going for Video games glory down south.
BADMINTON
Kirsty Gilmour, Bothwell
Video games veteran Kirsty has focused a ‘career-defining’ gold medal in Birmingham.
The 28-year-old, who has a silver from Glasgow 2014 and a bronze from Gold Coast 2018, mentioned: “A gold medal could be enormous, career-defining.
“I've to go in desirous about efficiency, initially, and if I get that proper, then it is going to be gold medal-worthy.
“I need to full that set. “
Alex Dunn, Motherwell
Alex Dunn hopes the whole lot he has sacrificed for the game is geared toward a gold medal.
The 23-year-old has risen to prominence lately, alongside doubles associate Adam Corridor from Mauchline, and the pair gained silver on the European Championships in Madrid two months in the past.
Dunn mentioned: “I believe that is our time. In comparison with the final Video games, myself, Adam and the crew positively have totally different expectations on this one.
“We’re trying to do as finest we are able to, to bother these pairs as we all know we are able to do on the day.
“We’ve received to do the whole lot we are able to to place ourselves in that place that we need to trigger an upset, we need to get that medal, and I’m wanting ahead to the problem."
BOWLS
Stewart Anderson, Hamilton
Eddlewood star Stewart is gunning for double medal glory in garden bowls and desires a gold.
He's competing in triples and fours at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa, on August 1 and 6 in his debut Video games, the place he'll crew up with fellow Lanarkshire star Ian McLean.
And mentioned: “Taking part in with Scotland, we're among the finest nations at bowls. We all the time anticipate one thing, and the crew 4 years in the past got here away with two or three golds.
"I might love two medals, however I might love a gold medal.”
Caroline Brown, Motherwell
Commonwealth Video games 2018 silver medallist Caroline Brown says successful gold at Birmingham 2022 could be ‘out of this world’ after getting the decision to signify her nation as soon as once more.
Having gained Scotland’s first ever girls’s triples medal when she, Kay Moran and Stacey McDougall took silver on the Gold Coast in 2018, Brown says it could be an unimaginable achievement to go one higher.
NHS Lanarkshire employee Brown, from Motherwell, isn't any stranger to this degree of competitors, and mentioned: “It’s my fourth time and I’m actually wanting ahead to it.
“I’m hoping to go one additional this time. Profitable gold could be out of this world, it actually would, and that’s the whole lot as a participant.
“Within the out of doors recreation, I suppose that’s our absolute pinnacle in out of doors bowls and that’s what you need to attempt in the direction of."
Iain McLean, Lesmahagow
Bowls champion Iain McLean says Commonwealth Video games strain is on him and team-mate Stewart Anderson – as a result of they successfully changed two gold medallists.
Blantyre Miners’ Welfare Indoor Bowling Membership star McLean and Anderson have been drafted into the squad, whereas double 2018 gold medallists Derek Oliver and Ronnie Duncan didn’t make the lower.
And the 38-year-old that places strain on, and in addition reveals how excessive the choice standards is.
Iain mentioned: “There’s all the time strain, by way of representing Scotland, as a result of Scotland is extremely considered among the finest nations on the earth, so that you’re anticipated to do effectively and be on the prime finish of issues.
“Myself and Stewart, to a level, we’ve received within the crew on the expense of two guys who gained two gold medals in 2018 within the Gold Coast, so it’s a sign of simply how robust choice is and the way aggressive issues are.
“That’s an added side that folks will likely be saying right away, if me and Stewart weren’t to medal."
GYMNASTICS
Elidh Gorrell, Hamilton
The 17-year-old is bursting with pleasure after being chosen as one among simply 4 rivals to achieve the ladies’s crew.
She joins clubmate Cara Kennedy from The Metropolis of Glasgow Gymnastics Membership, and Emily Bremner from Dundee, together with Shannon Archer of South Essex Gymnastics Membership, as they go for gold of their competitors which runs from July 29 to August 2.
Eilidh has simply completed fifth 12 months at St John Ogilvie Excessive and has been coaching laborious over the summer season and searching ahead to the Commonwealth Video games.
She mentioned: “I’m so excited for the Video games. I simply need to take pleasure in and embrace the expertise and use this as a superb begin to my profession. At first I used to be in shock and virtually didn’t imagine it. It's beginning to sink in now.”
NETBALL
Emma Barrie, Stonehouse
Emma says she has been working laborious to get an opportunity within the Scottish Thistles, and intends to grab that chance.
Thistles are in a really testing Group A with Australia, Jamaica, South Africa, Wales and Barbados, with the Aussies first up on Saturday, July 30.
The Stonehouse star goes into her first Video games and is wanting ahead to it.
Emma - one among six Lanarkshire gamers in Workforce Scotland's netball squad - mentioned: “It has been numerous laborious work behind the scenes, anad I’m so glad that I’ve been chosen.
“I simply need to put in performances to be pleased with.”
Kelly Boyle, Coatbridge
Kelly Boyle says being a part of the 2022 Commonwealth Video games with the Scottish Thistles is a ‘as soon as in a lifetime alternative’ that she intends to seize.
The Strathclyde Sirens star, 26, is aware of it is going to be robust for Scotland, however is wanting ahead to the motion going down and hopefully taking part in her half.
She mentioned: “We’ve been coaching for therefore lengthy and we've been counting down with every camp each weekend. Now that it’s lastly right here, I believe we’re all simply excited.
“Now we are able to take pleasure in it, now that we’ve carried out the coaching, and we’re able to exit and carry out.
“It’s a as soon as in a lifetime alternative and it solely comes spherical now and again, so when you go on the market it’s about relishing the second."
Lynsey Gallagher, East Kilbride
Gallagher goals to repay numerous religion when she takes to the courtroom with Scottish Thistles on the 2022 Commonwealth Video games.
She is competing in her third Commonwealth Video games, has recovered from a probably career-threatening knee accidents lately, however is grateful to be included in Tamsin Greenway’s 12-strong squad.
The 30-year-old former Duncanrig Excessive Faculty pupil mentioned: “There was a bit of religion proven in me, however there was ever any doubt that I wasn’t going to work laborious.
“I’ve all the time had that mind-set, that I need to be the perfect that I may be, and if I’m in a squad I all the time need to be up there, figuring out I can do a job for the crew.
“We need to put out actually strong, constant performances, and we’re there to win, bot simply to participate and make up the numbers.
“There are video games that we actually need to goal, as a result of we all know what our hopes and expectations are, as a squad.”
Beth Goodwin, Cambuslang
Beth Goodwin says Scotland can sit up for the 2022 Commonwealth Video games with confidence, as a result of they know what they’re able to.
The Strathclyde Sirens star says preparation has been good for the competitors in Birmingham, and there’s a superb mixture of youth and expertise of their ranks.
And the 23-year-old from Cambuslang says the purpose is to solidify Scotland’s place on the earth rankings.
Goodwin mentioned: “This can be a nice alternative to play in opposition to among the finest netballers on the earth, greater than something.
“I simply need to exit and luxuriate in it, and hopefully put out some performances to be pleased with.
“We positively have a blended crew. We’re all nonetheless fairly younger, and there's a mixture of youth and expertise.
“That’s all the time a superb factor, as a result of the younger ones go in fearless, however we’re right here to remind them that if they're feeling like that, there’s nothing to lose.
“We’ve had such good preparation for the Video games, so we all know what we’re able to."
Niamh McCall, Strathaven
The 22-year-old is decided to benefit from the 2022 Commonwealth Video games, having been named in Tamsin Greenway’s 12-strong Scottish Thistle squad.
Niamh was a part of the squad at Gold Coast 2018, however didn’t get a lot time on the courtroom. This time round, the Strathclyde Sirens star hopes to make a reputation for herself in Birmingham.
Ex-Strathaven Academy pupil McCall mentioned: “I used to be chosen final time for Gold Coast in 2018, after I was actually younger, actually inexperienced, so to be chosen now as one of many extra skilled and senior gamers is basically thrilling.
“I actually didn’t get numerous game-time the final time, so it is going to be a totally new expertise, being on courtroom – fingers crossed – for a bit greater than final time.”
Emily Nicholl, Biggar
Emily Nicholl hopes she’s carried out sufficient to earn the vice-captain title at Scottish Thistles as she prepares to play a number one position on the Commonwelath Video games this week.
The Biggar star is second-in-command to Claire Maxwell on the Birmingham 2022 showpiece and is delighted with that honour.
The 28-year-old mentioned: “It truly is a implausible honour, and it’s the primary time throughout the Thistles atmosphere that I’ve had that sort of title, as such.
“However nothing about what I do on my every day foundation actually adjustments – I simply proceed to do what I do, and the title goes with it.
“However it’s nice to work so carefully with Claire Maxwell and to go to work carefully with [head coach] Tamsin Greenway and [assistant] Sara Francis-Bayman.
“It’s such an honour and I’m actually pleased with it."
TRIATHLON
Grant Sheldon, Hamilton
The Hamilton 27-year-old has certified for his third successive Video games and is able to combine it with the massive boys.
He mentioned: “A medal is all the time on the playing cards. It’s a deep area, but it surely’s not ridiculously deep, and I positively have the aptitude to combine it with the perfect – however we’ll simply want to attend and see.
“Gold could be a profession pinnacle.”
WEIGHTLIFTING
Jodey Hughes, Strathaven
The 39-year-old says she is on the peak of her powers as she goals for medal glory.
Jodey, who competed on the final Video games in 2018 and completed ninth, will compete within the 55kg class on Saturday evening in a straight closing and mentioned: “My prep has by no means been higher.
"In coaching I’m lifting greater than ever, which is basically constructive.
“I’m feeling actually assured. It’s one alternative for me. It’s all or nothing.”
WRESTLING
Abbie Fountain, Rutherglen
The 18-year-old has been juggling her coaching with a part-time job and the previous Cathkin Excessive pupil is aiming to benefit from the expertise.
She mentioned: “I’m wanting ahead to my first huge Video games, and simply being in an enormous worldwide contest, actually.
“I’ve not had many probabilities for contests like this prior to now couple of years due to Covid, so it’s actually thrilling.
“This is likely to be the final Video games with wrestling in it for some time, because it’s an elective sport, so I’m glad I’m getting the possibility to participate.
"It ought to be an excellent studying expertise.”
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