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WSIS - Strathaven swimmer Douglas Scott breaks long standing record
No one had come close to toppling the junior 100 metres breastroke record set in 1984 by Fifer, Gary Watson until this week. But the in-form East Kilbride Swimming Club 16 year old managed to break it on three separate occasions in less than a week. The new record stands at 1:03.94 minutes.
Andy Figgins together with his assistant, Alan McGown, are the coaches that have nurtured the talented Scott for the last four years.
Douglas has an amazing work ethic and he just needed the right meet at the right time, said Figgins. I've worked with him for four years and he was very much a one-stroke swimmer when we started. As part of a swimmer's long term development it's important to swim the other strokes and through shear hard work and determination, together with Alan McGown, he has done a fantastic job.
Scott was expected back this weekend after completing a memorable year which included his selection for Team GB which competed at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Belgrade, in July and his form has not gone unnoticed in the wider circles of the sport.
Gary VanderMeulen, husband and coach to former World No.1, Alison Sheppard, was recently appointed swimming Co-ordinator of the West of Scotland Institute of Sport, of which Scott is a member. The West of Scotland Institute of Sport helps Scottish governing body-identified athletes by providing high performance expertise. The network's expert teams work together to deliver essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and give career and lifestyle guidance.
He's really intense, he's got the fire lit under him and is going really well, said VanderMeulen. To break this record is significant because it was held by Gary Watson, who won the European Junior Championships the same year he got the record. This year will be Douglas's first opportunity to go to the Europeans.
VanderMeulen is equally impressed with Figgins's coaching set up at East Kilbride. I went to visit Andy's programme and he's got an amazing 50meter pool in East Kilbride. Normally, if you have that type of facility you'd be producing international athletes and he's starting to do that now.
I've seen a lot of good programmes since I've been working in the West. Andy has a whole bunch of swimmers that are like that so a lot more will be coming through. He's a part time coach so it's pretty incredible what he's doing.
Scott will next see action in the Scottish Short Course Championships in Tollcross, Glasgow, starting on January 11.