This entry was posted on Monday, July 28th, 2014at 3:56 pm by zoe.leahy@activenation.org.uk

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games– Be Inspired And Get Everyone Active!

What an amazing Commonwealth Games so far – not only have hosts Scotland already beaten their previous medal record, but their youngest ever team member has become the youngest competitor – from any nation to win a Commonwealth Games medal. If that isn’t inspirational – then we don’t know what is!

Scotland’s para sport swimmer Erraid Davies produced a storming comeback to take bronze in her 100m breaststroke race in 21.38 seconds – scoring a personal best for the second time in one day. The teenager said she could hear the crowd cheering her on at Tolcross Swimming Centre during her second 50m and decided to “hammer it”, narrowly missing out on a silver medal.

“I am really happy to have another PB,” she told Sharron Davies. “I got a medal and I am so happy. I am feeling really, really happy.”

The 13-year-old, who was competing at her first Commonwealth Games, is in the para category because of a problem with one of her hip bones which restricts her movement.

Her father David Davies, 69, described his daughter as “amazing” and said they had not seen her for four weeks because of her training.

He said: “She got into swimming because she developed a hip condition called Perthes’ disease when she was 3, and was told she was not to do any weight bearing exercises and that the best thing for her was to swim.

“She swam her first mile before she was 6. She’s been swimming ever since and she’s just got better and better.”

Erraid trains in a 16.6m three-lane pool – a third of the length of the Olympic sized pool where she won bronze – and swims 9 times a week.

Her mother Joyce told the BBC: “We do have a lot of swimming pools [on Shetland] but they are very small – it shows it doesn’t make any difference.

“Swimming makes Erraid very happy. It’s too much hard work if you’re not loving it so I think her smile says everything.”

Scotland are currently in 3rd place in the medals table with their best ever haul of 33 medals – 13 gold, 8 silver and 12 bronze medals – just behind Team England in second place with 79 medals – 29 gold, 25 silver and 25 bronze.

Wales are 8th with 22 medals and Northern Ireland are 16th with 2 medals. And Australia is leading the way with a total of 91 medals.

With stories like Erraid’s emerging from the competition it really is a great time to get inspired and get active!

Most of us know that we need to move more – but with so many Active Nation venues running Kids Activity Camps this summer why not get them active too! From skiing, sailing, snowboarding, trampolining, swimming, gymnastics, badminton and everything in-between it is a perfect time to make the most of the Commonwealth Games’ feel-good factor and do something brilliant for you and the young people in your life!

For more information please give your local venue a call.