Angharad Evans produced a stunning finish to win the women's 100m breaststroke title at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, crediting the passionate home support for powering her to gold.
The Cambridge-born swimmer held off a late challenge from South Africa's Aimee Canny and Australia's Sienne Toohey to touch in 1:06.07, sending the Tollcross Swimming Centre into raptures.
Emotional podium moment
It was Scotland's third gold in the pool, following Duncan Scott and Faye Rogers. The 23-year-old was overcome with emotion as Flower of Scotland played during the medal ceremony.
Gold was reward for a remarkable turnaround from failing to qualify for the final of her favoured event at last year's World Championships in Singapore.
Crowd power
Evans revealed how the raucous crowd helped silence her doubts. She said: "I thanked the crowd because leading into competitions it's so easy for doubts and negative thoughts to play a part in my mindset.
"I walked out and they really lifted me and gave me the confidence I need and boosted me up.
"They often talk about how proud they are of us bringing home gold medals and PBs, but I'm immensely proud of the crowd and how the Tartan Army supports me.
"Wearing the blue and white, hearing the crowd, being part of Scotland just carries you to the end.
"I don't think I would have had the strength and the courage in the last 10 metres if I wasn't in the blue and white and I didn't have that crowd behind me. They absolutely helped me get to the end and finish first."
Overcoming doubts
Evans' doubts stemmed from missing the 100m final at the World Championships in Singapore, just a year after finishing sixth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"It's really emotional," she said. "Singapore last year struck me fairly hard and I didn't realise how deep-rooted that was until it got closer to the Commonwealth Games.
"All these thoughts in my head started to plant seeds of doubt, so when it got to the last five metres in the race and it got close, all I did was tell myself to give it your all.
"There's nothing behind, then you have no regrets. That's what I did, and Scotland was there to witness that. That was a very, very special moment.
"Training has been so hard, to the point where I'm excited to get on the block and showcase my hard work. It's consistent and consistently hard, and it's something I've never had before.
"I trust what my body can do and how hard it can be pushed. I think how hard training has been has almost unlocked a new pain threshold that I didn't even know was there.
"It's been fun to showcase that this season."
Looking ahead
Evans has big aims, with eyes on improving her sixth place at Paris 2024 before LA 2028. She said: "Something me and my coach talk about is building that catalogue up. When something goes wrong, you can flip back to the page where it's happened before and you have that proof that it will be okay.
"I didn't feel good in the water leading up to this race but at trials, I didn't feel good either and I PB'd.
"Having that experience built up gives me comfort that I don't need to be fresh and ready for that race.
"I wasn't too happy with the time. I think there's definitely more to come in that but it's completely different racing in an environment like this."
Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33m is raised every week for good causes. It’s because of you that sport, arts, heritage and community projects, as well as our athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, are supported across the UK.
