Shanahan relishing home Glasgow games chance
Katie Shanahan was just 10 years old when Glasgow last hosted the Commonwealth Games, but the Bishopbriggs swimmer now believes she could sell out Tollcross on her own.After winning two bronze medals in Birmingham and reaching two Olympic finals in Paris, the 20-year-old will return to her home city next summer with significant backing from the stands."I was over the moon when I heard the Commonwealth Games were coming to Glasgow," Shanahan told BBC Radio Scotland."I think my mum was more excited than I was, just because she's been there throughout my whole career."She knows so many people that are going to come and watch me, and I know so many people too."In some ways, I feel like I could sell out the whole of Tollcross with just people watching me."
The University of Stirling swimmer backed up her Commonwealth success with a European silver in 2022 before placing fourth in the 200m backstroke at the World Championships the following year.Now she is eager to replicate her success in front of a home crowd."It was absolutely amazing for me to get those two bronze medals in Birmingham," Shanahan continued."I really didn't expect that I was going to be even close to medals, so to come away with two bronzes was just really special."Then obviously since then, I've taken my senior career to the next level. Olympics, World Championships, Europeans. I've ticked them all off now, which is pretty amazing."In the next year or so, in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games, I really will be honing my training and hoping to get some more medals, but there's absolutely no pressure."If I come away with one, two, none, I'll be happy no matter what, because I'll be racing in front of the home crowd and in front of my friends and family."I'm hoping to do everyone proud and do the city proud, I'm really looking forward to it."Shanahan will be 22 when she takes to the blocks in 2026 with only vague memories of the Scottish heroes who yielded 10 medals in the same pool 12 years prior."I was 10 when the 2014 Commonwealth Games were on, which is crazy to think," added the former Bishopbriggs High School pupil."I don't really remember much. I didn't actually go and see any of the events, but I do remember the opening ceremony, closing ceremony, and I remember watching some of it on the telly."I do remember watching Ross Murdoch and Hannah Miley getting their gold medals, which was amazing. So hopefully, we can have the same result next year."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
PR-savvy and now finally a knight - Beckham always knew how to turn on the charm
A sporting icon courted by prime ministers past and present, newly knighted Sir David Beckham is renowned for being extremely media savvy. Never more so than when I interviewed him for Sky News at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, after he took part in the closing ceremony having played a key role in London's winning bid to host the 2012 Games. Speaking about Sir Alex Ferguson in the interview, canny Sir Becks heaped praise on his old boss in our interview. But he'd been less complimentary about his old boss in a conversation with prime minister Gordon Brown, I later learned. I'd travelled to Beijing with Mr Brown, via Afghanistan, and we spent the final evening of the Games at the handover party, when Boris Johnson - then London mayor - famously spoke in his speech about "wiff waff" (table tennis) coming home. During his Beijing visit, Mr Brown had been promoting the idea of a Great Britain football team competing at the 2012 Games and there was speculation about Sir Alex being the team's coach. "Aah, Sir Alex," Becks said wistfully and apparently affectionately when I asked him about being re-united with his former Manchester United manager during the interview. "Like a father to me." Later, on the flight home to the UK, when I told Gordon Brown about the interview, the prime minister laughed. "That's funny," he said. "Why?" I asked him. Beckham played for Fergie at Manchester United from 1995 until 2003, when he joined Real Madrid amid claims that Ferguson disapproved of the player's showbiz lifestyle. By 2008 he was playing for LA Galaxy in the US. But despite his canny, PR-savvy answers in my interview, I saw him work the room that night in Beijing and glad-hand relentlessly. He gave every interview asked of him and turned on the charm on behalf of UK PLC to everyone present. For politicians and prime ministers, sportsmen and women like Beckham are pure gold. David Cameron was also a fan and was photographed sitting alongside Becks at the London Games. When "Goldenballs", as wife Victoria called him, retired from football a year later, a No 10 spokesman gushed: "The prime minister's view is that David Beckham has been an outstanding footballer throughout his career. "But not only that, he has been a brilliant ambassador for this country, not least if we remember all the work he did on helping us win London 2012." There was indeed a Great Britain men's football team at the Olympics, but it was coached by former England legend Stuart Pearce, not Sir Alex. And Pearce, nicknamed "psycho" for his aggressive style on the pitch, didn't pick Becks either, though he claimed he'd faced pressure from Downing Street to include him. Then in 2017, David Cameron's former spin doctor Craig Oliver claimed a senior Tory cabinet minister - thought to have been George Osborne - suggested giving Becks a peerage and appointing him sports minister in a 2013 cabinet reshuffle. That never happened either, obviously, though at least now David Beckham is also a knight - just like his "father figure" Sir Alex.
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Arsenal deal for Viktor Gyokeres at risk as Sporting issue threat
Arsenal's deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres could be at risk as Sporting CP have threatened to increase the striker's asking price. Earlier this week, Sporting's president, Frederico Varandas, hit out at Gyokeres' agent over suggestions that a transfer fee had already been agreed ahead of the summer transfer window. Gyokeres has a €100 million (£85.1m) release clause in his contract but Sporting have been willing to sell the Sweden international for lower than that amount. Varandas was angered by claims that Sporting have agreed to sell Gyokeres for €60m (£51m) plus a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons and warned the striker's representative, Hasan Cetinkaya, that he is 'making the situation worse'. During his negotiations to bring Gyokeres to Sporting in a £20m deal from Coventry City two years ago, Cetinkaya secured an exclusive sales mandate which means that the Portuguese champions will have to pay the agent 10 per cent of the value of any rejected offer above €60m (£51m). Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. It is understood that if Cetinkaya decides to activate that mandate this summer, Sporting will respond by demanding that Gyokeres' €100m (£85.1m) release clause is paid in full. Arsenal's sporting director, Andrea Berta, met with his counterpart at Sporting, Bernardo Palmeiro, in Menorca to discuss a deal for Gyokeres this week. Arsenal's initial proposal worth an €55m (£46.8m) plus a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons was rejected but an improved offer is expected. Sporting are believed to be holding out for a deal worth closer to €80m (£68.1m) including add-ons. More Trending Reports in Portugal on Thursday claimed that there is a 'growing optimism' in Gyokeres' camp that a deal can be agreed between Arsenal and Sporting. Manchester United also remain in the race to sign Gyokeres and are hoping his strong relationship with Ruben Amorim can overcome the striker's reservations about the lack of European football at Old Trafford next season. United have indicated to Sporting that they are willing to pay €60m (£51.1m) up front, plus a further €10m (£8.5m) in performance-related bonuses. Gyokeres, who finished the season with 54 goals in 52 games and helped Sporting win the domestic double in Portugal, issued a cryptic message on Instagram on Thursday which read: 'There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Benfica send message to Chelsea over Joao Felix transfer MORE: King's Birthday Honours list: Sir David Beckham knighted and Luke Littler honoured MORE: Bryan Mbeumo makes decision over Manchester United transfer after £70m Spurs bid
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Yorkshire charity, business and sport heroes recognised in King's Birthday Honours
Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee has been appointed OBE in the King's Birthday double Olympic gold medal winner, who announced his retirement from the sport in late 2024, has been recognised for services to triathlon and to 37-year-old athlete took gold at London 2012 before defending his title in Rio four years later, with Brownlee calling the OBE a "great privilege".He is one of a number of people being recognised for a range of achievements, charity work, fundraising or community involvement across Yorkshire. Brownlee, originally from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, said: "No one goes into triathlon as an eight-year-old kid to get this kind of recognition, but it's absolutely fantastic."I had a career that I'm very proud of and was very literally a childhood dream."A world champion in 2009 and 2011, Brownlee is the only triathlete to be crowned junior world champion, U23 world champion, European champion and Olympic his work with the Brownlee Foundation charity, he said: "I am really proud of the role hopefully I've had in inspiring thousands of children to get into sport and live healthier lifestyles." Among those receiving knighthoods in the King's Birthday Honours is Sheffield-based Peter Peter is the former chief executive of the Education and Skills Funding Agency and a former board member at the Department for Tarn, from Barnsley and chief executive officer of Delta Academies Trust, has also been appointed Knights Bachelor for services to chief executive Roisin Currie is appointed Ms Currie has led the bakery firm since 2022 and has been honoured for her contributions to the hospitality industry. Sophie Maxwell, from Sheffield, founded The Really NEET Project to support young people not in education, employment or has been appointed MBE, along with Fiona Martin, the founder of the Leeds-based Friends of Alfie Martin charity, and Gillian Caine, for services to scouting and helping those with diabetes in West appointed MBE is Dr Amanda Wilcox, who was pro-vice-chancellor at York St John University between 2018 and 2022 and led the university's response to the Covid pandemic."I am delighted and honoured to receive this recognition for my work in higher education, a sector within which I am wholly committed and hugely proud," she said."This means such a lot to me - not just the award, but that colleagues took time to make a submission." Dr Lesley Schatzberger, the founder of the York-based charity Jessie's Fund, has also been appointed charity was established in 1995 and helps children with serious illness, complex needs and communication difficulties through the therapeutic use of Fund was named after nine-year-old Jessie George, who died in 1994 after she was diagnosed with a brain by Jessie's love of music, she set up the charity after her daughter's death to offer music therapy to children in hospices across the UK. Those being awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) include Becky Malby, from Malby, a co-founder of the Ilkley Clean River Group and chair of the Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group, has been recognised for her contribution to river cleanliness and the local Calvert, a manager for North Yorkshire Council, said she was "shocked and overwhelmed" when she received a letter informing her of a BEM."I just couldn't believe it," she said."I didn't cry but I was close to tear - it was a massive shock that someone had nominated me for the honour." Mrs Calvert, who lives in County Durham, supported a government numeracy programme and helped thousands of people gain new skills in the region. Also receiving a BEM is Zarith Nasa Hussain, who is being recognised for his services to cricket in Bradford, and Valerie Hoyle, who has pushed the development of women's football in Rotherham for more than 50 years. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
