Barrhead News | Sport | LOCAL HERO DAN HAS SHOT AT MEDALS

Saturday, 22nd November, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 8th October, 2008 13:00

LOCAL HERO DAN HAS SHOT AT MEDALS

BARRHEAD shot star Daniel Carlin has vowed to return from next week’s Commonwealth Youth Games with a medal to declare after an impressive summer in the field.

Carlin (pictured), who celebrated his 18th birthday last month, is part of the Scottish squad bound for the quadrennial tournament to be held in Pune, India which begins on October 12.

The Giffnock North AAC member will arrive in India with realistic medal ambitions and will start the competition as the athlete with the fifth-best throw after a season that has seen him set new personal bests in both the junior and senior categories.

And Carlin, who is one of 250 emerging Brits that will receive £1,000 each year in the run up to London 2012 courtesy of the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes Scheme, believes he can bridge the gap to the top three when the action commences.

He said: “I think I’m ranked in the top five people out of those going in my event so my chances of doing well are quite good. I would like to get a medal but at this stage of my career I always think performing well and getting good distances are the real aims so I’m mainly hoping to get a new PB.

“But that is not to say I would still be delighted if I threw badly and came home with a medal. The Commonwealth Youth Games are going to be so much bigger than anything I’ve done so hopefully that can inspire me to perform well.

“A lot of my recent good form has been down to the Lloyds funding — it has helped with my training and travel costs no end.”

The Commonwealths won’t be the first time Carlin has competed on the international stage after he narrowly missed out on a medal at the Gothenburg Youth Games in June, finishing fourth. But whatever happens in India, the Barrhead teenager admits his latest foray in to the international arena will stand him in good stead for the years to come.

He added: “I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been away with Great Britain before but never to a competition as big as this — it’s going to be a whole new experience and I can’t wait. Junior competitions such as this are really important in preparing young athletes for senior competitions — you’re bound to be a lot more confident at senior level if you’ve been there and done it at junior level.

“I’m hoping a successful Commonwealth Youth Games will help me continue my progression towards the ultimate goal for me which is Glasgow 2014. London 2012 would be amazing but I think a little too early for me.”

Lloyds TSB is providing up to £1,000 to 250 emerging young sportspeople identified each year across Britain, in the run up to London 2012 and beyond. Visit www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes for more information on the scheme.

Social Bookmarking What are these?