Fourteen times a Scottish Champion and a former Great Britain U20 squad member, Jonathan Bunyan will be following in the family tradition as he heads to Gold Coast 2018 as part of Team Scotland’s 12-strong Basketball squad.

His brother Keith was part of the Scotland team that finished 6th at the Melbourne 2006 Games, the last time the sport was included on the Commonwealth Games programme, and his father John was also the team’s assistant coach. With Gold Coast preparations well underway and a big test against a Glasgow Rocks Select on Sunday 4 March, we caught up with Jonathan as part of our Sport Focus Series:

How special will it be to pull on the Scotland jersey at the Commonwealth Games?

“Anytime I get to play for Scotland it’s a great feeling, it’s an instant feeling of pride. I don’t think I can even guess as to how good it will be to pull on the Scotland shirt and represent Team Scotland in Australia. I just know we are all excited to be a part of such a great sporting event.”

You have quite a tradition of Basketball in the family, how does it feel to be following in their footsteps?

“Basketball and representing Scotland is really special for me, I wouldn’t be playing basketball if it wasn’t for my dad and older brother and certainly wouldn’t have been as dedicated to the sport as I am just now. My brother played in the last Commonwealth Games and my dad was involved in the coaching staff, so to know I have made it to the same level they did, and that their hard work helping me through the years has paid off is really special.”

The Commonwealth Games is unique in being the only multi-sport Games where athletes represent Scotland, how special will that be?

“I think being part of not only the Basketball team but Team Scotland as a whole will be great. Watching big events like the Commonwealth Games and Olympics at home on TV, you always get a sense that it’s a big group effort from all of the athletes and not just the ones in your sport. It will be great to feel part of that environment, knowing I am representing the whole country.”

How is preparation for Gold Coast 2018 going?

“Preparation has been going well so far, but I think the game at the weekend will be a really good opportunity to see where we are at. It will be a good environment to get the team together and play some high level talent. I am looking forward to this weekend being a real starting point for our countdown to Gold Coast and it would be great to see as many Team Scotland fans as possible at the Emirates Arena on Sunday!”

Tickets for Scotland vs Glasgow Rocks Select are available at: http://bbl.org.uk/trophy2018/

With Team Scotland’s gymnasts competing at the 2018 Scottish Artistic Gymnastics Championships this weekend in Perth, their final competition before Gold Coast 2018, we spoke to the 2017 Men’s All-Around champion Kelvin Cham as he looks to defend his title:

On being Scottish Senior men’s all-round champion:

“It was a great feeling winning the national title, especially because it was my first time competing as a senior. I felt a lot of pressure as well as I was alongside the likes of Dan Purvis and Frank Baines who are top gymnasts.”

On training ahead of winning all-round champ title:

“Training was very tough and I had to step up as I was transitioning from a being a junior gymnast the previous year. There was added pressure as it was also the first competition to achieve scores for the Commonwealth Games but it went really well, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.”

The prospect of representing Team Scotland in Gold Coast 2018:

“It means the world to me because this is what athletes train for from a young age. I know this is my first big opportunity to compete at a major event so I’ve put in a lot of hard work to cement my place in the team. It has always been a dream for me to represent Scotland at the highest level for gymnastics.”

On making sure there’s a training/work/life balance:

“For me it is difficult to balance training and social life because training dictates we have to spend a lot of time in the gym. As an athlete, holidays are also spent in the gym – and for even longer hours than normal!

I also coach younger gymnasts which is what I love – but that also means I spend more time in the gym, even when I’m not training myself! However, it’s all worth it when the hard work pays off and you get opportunities like competing in major events such as the Commonwealth Games.”

The Scottish Artistic Gymnastics Championships take place Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th at Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth – look out for results across the weekend on Scottish Gymnastics Twitter: @ScotGymnastics

With Scottish endurance running going through a golden era of success, we put some of our Gold Coast bound athletes under the spotlight to try and find out why the Saltire is flying so high for their sport.

First Athletics Memory

Eilish McColgan: My first running memory would be at Primary School when my PE teacher put me into the local cross country championships. I had never been in a race before but I loved every minute of it. I do have very vague recollections of seeing my mum and dad training as a young child, but at the time I didn’t really understand what they were doing – I was very naive to the fact they were both professional athletes!

Beth Potter: Watching Kelly Holmes at the 2004 Olympics. We were going to put a film on but then flicked over and the athletics was one, and we were glued to the TV for the rest of the Olympics. I remember getting her Olympic Diary book for Christmas as well!

Steph Twell: My Mum calling me in to watch Kelly Holmes.

Lennie Waite: Running with my Mum around our neighbourhood in Celigny, Switzerland when I was 6 or 7. I thought it was such a treat to be able to join her on her run!

Jake Wightman: My first running memory is racing a local school cross country race aged 8. I went off so hard, gained a huge lead, only to die completely and lose to the winner by an even bigger margin!

Guy Learmonth: My most vivid was when I was about 13 years old and my Dad taking an early finish from work to come home and take me to training at my first club, Dunbar AC. He was so excited to take me and I was unbelievably nervous; I tried to fake illness saying I ate something dodgy at school and pleaded with my Mum to convince him, but he saw right through me! When I got there I just remember doing some sprinting, some 100m reps and hammering everyone and I totally loved it, and so training and competing became a regular occurrence. I guess I have to thank him for that day – little does he know how much a positive impact it had on me.

Robbie Simpson: Running for Banchory Stonehaven AC in my first competitive race on a tartan track in Inverness and winning the 1500m. I also ran in the 4 x 100m relay team, which somehow we managed to win despite my lack of speed. Our team won the U13 title so it was a memorable day.

Highlight of your career to date

Eilish: I would say my first ever medal at the European Indoor Championships would be a highlight for me. I had made World and Olympic finals in two different events (5000m and 3000m SC) but to come away with a medal at the Europeans was really special.

Beth: Making the Olympic team at Highgate; that night was just amazing, it was a dream come true. My family inspired me, as I told them not to come but they turned up on mass. It was my whole family – my mum, dad, sister, aunt, so the pressure was on, but I did it so it was all good!

Steph: Winning bronze at the 2016 European Champs. Winning a medal at international level after returning from such a long road to recovery with my ankle was special.

Lennie: Making the Rio 2016 Olympic Team. It is hard to explain to people what professional track and field is and all the training that it entails. Making the Olympics has made that process way easier – everyone knows what the Olympics is and they understand the level of commitment it takes to make it to the Olympic Games.

Jake: Winning the Bislett Games 1500m last year. A result I wasn’t at all expecting, but one I hope to replicate.

Guy: Has to be my first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and my first major World Champs in London, both for very, very different reasons. They both top any time I’ve run, record I’ve broken or medal I’ve won.

Robbie: Finishing 3rd at the World Mountain Running Championships in Wales in 2015. I got tripped up at the start, hitting the deck and cutting my knees, shins and hands badly, but I ran probably my best race after that and just managed to get in the medal position on the final uphill. In the days after I was struggling to walk from the cuts and bruises from the fall, but in the race I didn’t feel it!

What you believe is the reason for the recent Scottish endurance success?

Eilish: It is a little strange but we’ve all grown up together! I remember watching Lynsey Sharp and Chris O’Hare making their first GB teams and thinking, “wait a minute… I know them, I’ve raced the same competitions as them for years so maybe I could do that!?” It really is a ripple effect of watching someone that you know really well preform to a high level – it elevates you and makes you start to think differently. I know that without Laura Muir breaking down barriers, both mentally and physically, I certainly wouldn’t be running as fast as I am now.

Beth: Mike Johnston, who was in charge before Mark, just never gave up on you. Using me as an example, I had a couple of bad years when I’d been injured and I fell out of love with the sport a bit, but he always supported me, never took me off funding, and having a team like that behind you really helps. They communicate really well too; everyone is linked in including physios and nutritionist, but they don’t all interfere – they let you get on with it but they’re there if you need help. It’s clearly worked!

Steph: I believe the Scottish success on the track is down to dogged determination and the desire to each be as successful as each other. I think our competitiveness is contagious but most importantly I think our success stems from off the track thanks to a down to earth, encouraging and helpful endurance management squad.

Lennie: Success breeds success! I really believe success is contagious. When you see your peers achieve great success and progress in the sport, it is motivating. It helps you realise what is possible and that belief can spread throughout a team.

Jake: I believe running in Scottish Athletics events and Scottish Schools let us be competitive in champs and make teams, which we may not have been able to do  elsewhere when young. It taught us how to race and kept us motivated for success in the sport, which paid off when we were given the chance to compete across the UK and beyond.

Guy: There’s something in the water and it’s called self-belief and confidence. The Scottish Athletics endurance programme has been in place for years and everything is coming to fruition, everyone is sub-consciously pushing one another on as no one wants to be left behind. The bar’s been raised and continues to be raised and you’re now seeing the athletes push the boundaries, push the limits and raise their own game. All the records are starting to be broken and it’s been a long time coming; it’s a true golden era for athletics in Scotland.

Robbie: I think it’s a combination of factors. When I started out at 12-13 years old there was a big group of talented runners and most of them stuck with it and put in a lot of hard work, improving gradually each year and helping to raise the standard. In the junior age groups there were plenty of regional and national events, as well as international opportunities, so even though it was competitive it was still within reach to win medals or qualify for teams. In my own experience in mountain running the senior level wasn’t as strong as it was in other countries so I made the team aged 18 and was already targeting the international scene from a young age. Once a few people break through then it seems more attainable for the others and everyone moves forward.

Prediction for number of endurance medals at Gold Coast 2018

Eilish: That’s a very tricky question as the distance events are notoriously hard with the Kenyan athletes competing, so I will go for 2.

Beth: 4

Steph: 12 – I may need to revise that though!

Lennie: 3

Jake: 4/5

Guy: 5/6

Robbie: 5

It’s a huge week for Scotland’s gymnasts with the Scottish Artistic Gymnastics Championships this weekend in Perth, and also for our track & field stars as the Emirates Arena hosts the Glasgow Grand Prix. Both sports step into the Gold Coast 2018 Sport Focus spotlight as they count down to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Look out for all things Athletics and Gymanstics on Team Scotland’s website and social channels this week as both sports share the spotlight in our Sport Focus Series, which features each of the 18 sports on the Gold Coast 2018 programme through athlete interviews, facts & figures, competition news and more.

Athletics at the Commonwealth Games

Athletics is a core sport at the Commonwealth Games and has been contested at every Games since their inception in 1930. Scottish athletes have won 70 medals to date in Athletics, with Allan Wells Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete across all sports with four gold, one silver and one bronze.

Scotland’s track & field athletes delivered their best medal haul for 24 years at Glasgow 2014 – one gold, two silver and one bronze –  with Libby Clegg and Mikhail Huggins victory in the Para-Sport T12 100m Scotland’s first gold on the track since Yvonne Murray in 1994. There were silver medals for hurdler Eilidh Doyle (nee Child) and 800m runner Lynsey Sharp while Mark Dry claimed Scotland’s first throws medal since 1982 with bronze in the hammer.

Find out more about Athletics in the Commonwealth Games, including the competition format, rules and equipment on our dedicated Athletics page.

Gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games

Artistic Gymnastics is a core sport at the Commonwealth Games and has been included on eight occasions to date. Rhythmic Gymnastics is an optional discipline, which was first included in 1990. Scottish gymnasts have won nine Commonwealth Games medals to date, with Jo Walker the first medallist with bronze in the Hoop in 1994, which remains Scotland’s only medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Steve Frew was Scotland’s first gold medallist in the sport, winning on the Rings at Manchester 2002 and the men’s team continued that success with an incredible five medals at Glasgow 2014 including a first ever medal in the Team Event with silver. Daniel Keatings became Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Games gymnast, adding gold on Pommel and silver in the All-Around while Dan Purvis took gold on P-Bars and bronze on Rings.

Find out more about Gymnastics in the Commonwealth Games, including the competition format, rules and equipment on our dedicated Gymnastics page.

Team Scotland 2018

With record numbers of Scots selected for the 2016 Olympic Games and 2017 World Championships, Team Scotland has named 23 track & field athletes for Gold Coast 2018, including Glasgow 2014 medallists Eilidh Doyle, Lynsey Sharp and Mark Dry. They are joined by World 4x400m silver medallist Zoey Clark and Diamond League winners Chris O’Hare and Jake Wightman in an incredibly strong team. World champion and World record holder Sammi Kinghorn leads a strong trio of Para-Sport athletes, joined by double Paralympic Games medallist Maria Lyle and World Junior champion Amy Carr.

Click here to meet the Athletics team for Gold Coast 2018.

In Gymnastics, World and Olympic medallist Dan Purvis and reigning British Floor and Vault champion, Frank Baines are the returning members of the successful Glasgow 2014 men’s squad and are joined by three 19 year-old rising stars in Kelvin Cham, Hamish Carter and David Weir. After a fifth place in the Team Event in Glasgow, Cara Kennedy leads a women’s trio which includes multiple Scottish Champion Shannon Archer and reigning Scottish champion on Bars, Isabella Tolometti.

Click here to meet the Gymnastics team for Gold Coast 2018

A total of 211 athletes have been named to Team Scotland for Gold Coast 2018 to date, with athletes announced in all sports except Rugby 7s. These final athletes will be named in March.

Show Your Support!

You can show your support by uploading photos and messages on our supporters page and give Team Scotland’s athletes a boost as they prepare to do the country proud on one of sport’s biggest stages!

Look out for other ways to get behind the team in the countdown to Gold Coast on Team Scotland’s social media channels.

Scotland at the Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games is the only occasion where Scotland gets to compete in a multi-sport event as a nation in its own right and is one of only six countries to have competed in every Commonwealth Games since their inception in Hamilton in 1930. Represented by 15 athletes participating in six sports at those first Games, winning a very creditable 10 medals, Scotland have gone on to win medals at every Games since.

Edinburgh became the first city to hold the Games twice in 1970 and 1986 and also became the first city to host the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Scotland hosted the Games for a third time when Glasgow welcomed athletes and officials to the XXth Commonwealth Games which was held from 23rd July – 3rd August 2014. Team Scotland celebrated their most successful Games in history, winning a total of 53 medals.

Find out more about the Commonwealth Games and Team Scotland’s past success in our Past Games section.

Part of the women’s team that finished in 5th place at Glasgow 2014, Cara Kennedy will head to her second Games in Gold Coast this April alongside Commonwealth Youth Games team mate from 2011, Shannon Archer, 18 year-old Izzy Tolometti and 17 year-old Sofia Ramzan.

Since 2014 Cara has come through a string of injuries and is back at her best as the Gold Coast 2018 Games approach. After a team bronze at the 2017 Northern European Championships, Team Scotland’s women will be out to impress Down Under and we caught up with Cara as part of our Sport Focus Series:

How special was competing in a home Games at Glasgow 2014?

“It was amazing! The support from the home crowd was a very heartwarming feeling as you felt like every single person was right behind you. It was extra special for all of my family to be able to come watch me compete, in particular both my grandparents.

How does it feel to be representing Scotland once again in Gold Coast?

“I feel honoured and, being four years older now, going through a second campaign has made me realise what a privilege it is.”

Give us an idea of your training over the last year:

“Since the Glasgow Games training has been a rollercoaster due to many ankle injuries. At the start of 2017 and the beginning of the qualifying campaign, I had my third ankle operation so I had to be patient and build up to full training slowly. I had built up well and was training all four apparatus again… but for only three months as an Achilles inflammation set me back again! Determined to keep the faith, I slowly built back up to competing all four apparatus and finishing the year on a high!”

What was your highlight from last year?

“My highlight of 2017 was competing in the vault final at the Northern European Championships. As you have to show two different vaults, it’s the first time since 2013 that I have been able to do this and it’s meant overcoming a lot of physical and mental barriers for me.”

How do you maintain a balance between training and everyday life?

“The hardest thing is when it’s been a particularly tough training day or week and you lose sight of what you’re aiming for.  For the last 14 years, gymnastics has been my life and while it may be a different life to most teenagers I have a great group of friends and family who I always have fun with when not in the gym.”

Scotland have been confirmed in both Men’s and Women’s Hockey events at Gold Coast 2018 and will be looking to make their mark Down Under. As part of our Sport Focus series, here are 12 things you might not know about Hockey at the Commonwealth Games:

1. Hockey is one of a number of core sports at the Commonwealth Games, making its debut in 1998. Scotland sent a women’s team who missed out on a place in the medal matches only on goal difference.

2. Scotland’s men made their debut at Melbourne 2006, finishing 7^th.

3. The best Scottish result in Hockey to date was 5^th for the women’s team at Melbourne 2006.

4. Each team will send a squad of 18 players to Gold Coast 2018, with 11 players on the pitch at any one time.

5. Hockey competition will run for the duration of the Games from 5-14 April and take place at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre which has undergone a $16.5million upgrade for the Games, completed in June 2017.

6. Both Scotland’s men and women will play the host nation, and defending champions, Australia in the group stages.

7. Scotland’s men are drawn in Pool A against Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada while the women are drawn in Pool B against Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ghana.

8. Both Scotland men’s and women’s team will play on the opening day of the Games – men v South Africa and women v New Zealand.

9. Twenty four umpires from a range of nations have been appointed by the International Hockey Federation to preside over the tournament. These include two from Scotland: Sarah Wilson (women’s event) and David Sweetman (men’s event).

10. Australia have dominated the sport at the Commonwealth Games with their men winning every gold medal to date and their women winning on all but one occasion, when they took bronze at Manchester 2002.

11. Only six nations have ever won a Commonwealth Games hockey medal: Australia, India, England and New Zealand who have won medals in both men’s and women’s events plus Malaysia and Pakistan in the men’s event only.

12. Played in more than 100 countries, Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world. Participation numbers show that Hockey is played by as many girls and women as by boys and men.

After fantastic results for Scotland at both World League and European Championships in 2017, Hockey player Gavin Byers will be hoping to make his Commonwealth Games debut for Team Scotland at Gold Coast 2018. With the team set to be announced shortly, we caught up with Gavin for a look back at a successful summer and a look ahead to the prospect of playing hosts Australia on their home soil:

The Scottish Men’s team were on form in 2017, what were your personal highlights?

2017 was a fantastic year for the men’s team – possibly the most successful we’ve ever had. Finishing 3rd at World League 2, three places above our ranking was a brilliant start to the year and really set the tone for the coming months. We progressed on to World League 3 where we finished 10th, but considering we were up against some of the best teams in the world we really gave a great account of ourselves and showed the rest of the world what we were all about and that we could compete and challenge at that high level.

This set us up perfectly for the European Championships in Glasgow. Five wins from five resulted in a gold medal and promotion to the Elite division in 2019. That was definitely the highlight of 2017, celebrating with the boys after a tough week with a gold medal around our necks!

Another highlight would have to be the efforts of our friends, families and fans that helped raise nearly £20,000 through Crowdfunding which enabled us to prepare and perform throughout the year. All this would not have been possible without the generosity of all those who donated. It was truly heart-warming to see the Hockey community come together and help us in our quest for a gold medal.

How has the team’s performance been so far in 2018 ?

We did get off to a flyer at the Indoor Euros in Cyprus, but ultimately we didn’t hit our objective which was to finish in the top two in order to gain promotion to the higher division next time round.

Leading the team as captain was a great honour and I am very proud of all the players who put in tremendous effort throughout the tournament. We returned with a feeling of great disappointment, but also determination to pick ourselves up and keep going.

Team Scotland have never won a Commonwealth Games medal in a team sport, how would you rate the team’s chances at Gold Coast 2018?

Whenever we go into a tournament, we are always full of optimism and of course we want to win – but, in reality, this will be one of the most challenging tournaments we have ever faced. We are ranked 9th out of 10 and face Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada who are all ranked much higher than us in the World Rankings.

To make the semi-finals would be an outstanding achievement. Every game will be extremely tough, but after 2017 the team are on a high and we must take advantage of this feeling and approach every game with no fear. 2017 has taught us that we can compete with any team and win crucial games. If we can carry that into 2018, who knows what we can achieve.

What about the prospect of playing the host nation in the group stages at Gold Coast 2018?

Every game will be tough, but Australia are the world number one so this will undoubtedly be the toughest game. Playing them in front of their home crowd will be a memorable moment but one that the team relishes. The team knows just how much a home crowd can help during a game (as we found out in Glasgow 2014 and last year at the Europeans) so the Australians will be looking to put on a show. We’ll be ready for that challenge and will look to silence the home support this time round…

The Gold Coast 2018 Hockey competition runs from 5-14 April, with Scotland set to name both men’s and women’s teams later this month.

Weightlifting has been a regular contributor to the Team Scotland medal tally since the sport made its Commonwealth Games debut nearly 70 years ago. As our Sport Focus comes to a close, here are 12 things you might not know about the sport and its history at the Games:

1. Weightlifting was first included at the 1950 Auckland Games and has been included ever since. It is one of a number of core sports which must be included at each Commonwealth Games.

2. Para-Sport Powerlifting made its Commonwealth Games debut in 2002, also the year that Weightlifting events for women were first included.

3. Scotland has won a total of 16 medals in Weightlifting across all Games; two gold, five silver and nine bronze.

4. Philip Caira is Scotland’s most successful weightlifter with two gold medals, won in 1958 and 1962. He remains Scotland’s only gold medallist in Weightlifting to date.

5. Peter Kirkbride won gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2004 and went on to win silver as a senior at Delhi 2010, missing out on gold by a single kilogram.

6. At the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Games, twin brothers Stuart and Tommy Yule found themselves on opposing teams due to a quirk of residency rules. Stuart competed for Scotland while Tommy competed for England. They were finally reunited in wearing Scotland colours at Manchester 2002, with Tommy winning bronze in the Snatch. Tommy went on to also win bronze in 2006.

7. Weightlifting competition consists of two different lifts executed in a standard order: first the Snatch and then the Clean and Jerk. Athletes within each weight category have three attempts for each movement and they are required to complete valid lifts in both in order to post a score.

8. Between 1990 and 2002 separate medals were awarded for the Snatch, the Clean and Jerk and for combined total. Since 2006 medals have only been awarded for combined total.

9. In Weightlifting, an ascending bar system is used with lifts occurring in order of weight attempted, from lowest to highest, throughout the competition. This may mean that an individual lifter makes several attempts in succession. Lifters are allowed several changes to the weight they have declared.

10. At Glasgow 2014, Micky Yule became the first Scottish athlete to compete in Para-Sport Powerlifting, finishing 4^th. He returns for Gold Coast 2018 in the hunt for a podium place.

11. Micky will be joined in Gold Coast by four weightlifters, all making their Commonwealth Games debut. Meet all five athletes in their Athlete Profiles.

12. Weightlifting at the Gold Coast 2018 Games will take place in the newly constructed Carrara Sports & Leisure Centre, also the venue for Badminton and Wrestling.

In the Sport Focus spotlight this week is Hockey, with Scotland set to send both women’s and men’s teams to Gold Coast 2018. All the action from the pool stages will be on show at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre from  5-11 April 2018, with semi-finals and medal matches from 12-14 April.

Our Sport Focus Series features each of the 18 sports on the Gold Coast 2018 programme through athlete interviews, facts & figures, competition news and more.

Hockey at the Commonwealth Games

Hockey made its Commonwealth Games debut at Kuala Lumpur 1998 where Scotland fielded a women’s team, just missing out on a semi-final place to India on goal difference. The women’s side have taken the field at every Games since, with their best result a 5th place at Melbourne 2006. Scotland’s men made their debut at Melbourne 2006 and have contested every Games since, 7th place their best finish to date.

Australia have been dominant with their men’s team winning gold at every Games to date and their women’s team taking the title on all but one occasion.

Find out more about Hockey in the Commonwealth Games, including the competition format, rules and equipment on our dedicated Hockey page.

Team Scotland 2018

Team Scotland will take to the field in both the Men’s and Women’s competition at Gold Coast 2018, having been confirmed among the 10 teams awarded a place in each event. Both sides will be in action on  the first day of competition (5 April) and after a successful recent test series against Wales, the women’s side will be looking to build on 6th place at Glasgow 2014. Scotland’s men took an outstanding victory in the 2017 EuroHockey Challenge II and go into Gold Coast 2018 set on bettering their 8th place finish of four years ago.

A total of 118 athletes have been named to Team Scotland for Gold Coast 2018 to date, with athletes announced in Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Triathlon and Weightlifting.

Further selections, including the final selection of Hockey players, will take place in February 2018.

Show Your Support!

You can show your support by uploading photos and messages on our supporters page and give Team Scotland’s athletes a boost as they prepare to do the country proud on one of sport’s biggest stages!

Look out for other ways to get behind the team in the countdown to Gold Coast on Team Scotland’s social media channels.

Scotland at the Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games is the only occasion where Scotland gets to compete in a multi-sport event as a nation in its own right and is one of only six countries to have competed in every Commonwealth Games since their inception in Hamilton in 1930. Represented by 15 athletes participating in six sports at those first Games, winning a very creditable 10 medals, Scotland have gone on to win medals at every Games since.

Edinburgh became the first city to hold the Games twice in 1970 and 1986 and also became the first city to host the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Scotland hosted the Games for a third time when Glasgow welcomed athletes and officials to the XXth Commonwealth Games which was held from 23rd July – 3rd August 2014. Team Scotland celebrated their most successful Games in history, winning a total of 53 medals.

Find out more about the Commonwealth Games and Team Scotland’s past success in our Past Games section.

Team Scotland’s fourth most successful sport of all time in terms of number of medals won, Shooting also boasts Scotland’s most decorated male and female athlete of any sport at the Games. As part of our Sport Focus in the countdown to Gold Coast 2018, here are 12 facts you might not know about Shooting at the Commonwealth Games:

1. An optional sport on the programme, Shooting made its Commonwealth Games debut at Kingston 1966. The sport was not included at the next Games in Edinburgh in 1970 but has been included at every Games since.

2. The four disciplines on the Commonwealth Games programme are: Clay Target; Pistol; Smallbore and Air Rifle; and Fullbore Rifle.

3. Only two Shooting events have been contested at every Commonwealth Games since 1966; 50m Pistol and Fullbore Queen’s Prize Pairs. Of the other events, the 50m Rifle Prone has been included at all but the Auckland 1990 Games, while the Skeet was not included in 1966 but has been on the programme ever since.

4. Scotland sit sixth on the all-time Commonwealth Games Shooting medal table with 45 medals; 12 gold, 15 silver and 18 bronze. Australia and England top the table – Australia in terms of gold medals won with 67, and England in terms of overall number of medals with 168, just five ahead of Australia.

5. Scotland’s shooters had their most successful Commonwealth Games at Delhi 2010, winning nine medals; four gold, three silver and two bronze. Jennifer McIntosh and Jonathan Hammond each won gold in the Individual 50m Rifle Prone before teaming up with Kay Copeland and Neil Stirton respectively to win gold in both Men’s and Women’s Pairs events.

6. Scotland’s most successful shooter is Alister Allan. His total of 10 medals over five Games appearances also makes him Scotland’s most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete of all time. Jonathan Hammond is Scotland’s most successful athlete at a single Games with two gold, a silver and a bronze at Delhi 2010.

7. With two gold, one silver and two bronze medals, Jennifer McIntosh holds the accolade of Scotland’s top female shooter and Scotland’s most decorated female athlete in Games history – titles previously held by her mother Shirley.

8. Scotland won its first Shooting medals at the Christchurch Games in 1974 where Colin McEachran won silver in the Fullbore Rifle and Alister Allan won bronze in the 50m Rifle Prone.

9. Scotland’s first gold medal came four years later at Edmonton 1978 also courtesy of Alister Allan, who took victory in the 50m Rifle Prone ahead of Bill Watkins of Wales and Isle of Man’s Stewart Watterson.

10. All Commonwealth Games Shooting events were open, until they were segregated by gender in 1994 for pistol and most rifle events, and in 2002 for trap and skeet events; whilst the full bore rifle competition remains an open event.

11. Shooting events at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held at the Belmont Shooting Centre in Brisbane, which also hosted the 1982 Games competition.

12. The 2017 Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships were the test event for the Gold Coast 2018 Games and Scottish shooters took four medals; Jennifer McIntosh and Seoniad McIntosh took gold and silver respectively in the 50m Rifle Prone, with Seonaid also taking gold in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions. Ian Shaw and Sandy Walker were bronze medallists in the Fullbore Pairs.

Meet the athletes who will represent Team Scotland in Shooting at Gold Coast 2018 in their Athlete Profiles.