Swimming: Scots national coach visits West Lothian school

Dec 17 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

SCOTTISH Swimming National Coach Doug Campbell took time out of his hectic schedule this week to visit one of the sport’s newest and ever-improving swim programmes.

Doug, a former Olympian and Commonwealth medallist, is currently overseeing the national teams in Scotland and is in the midst of preparing to lead the nation into Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

And last Thursday he spent the day with Swim West Lothian’s Performance coach, Gordon Glasgow, taking in the programme and learning about the groundbreaking Excellence in School Sport initiative which is giving local athletes world-class support in their bid to make a breakthrough at the international level.

Doug met with ESSP co-ordinator Paul McLeod and West Lothian’s Swimming Development Officer Sharon Ross while taking in a training session at St. Margaret’s Academy and was excited to see the passion and enjoyment shown whilst the athletes were put through their paces.

“It is great to see athletes showing such enthusiasm and respect whilst working hard,” said Doug as he watched the athletes complete their intensive workout. “There are no short cuts in this world but if you can enjoy the hard work the journey to the top does not seem so tough.”

The Swim West Lothian athletes will be taking part in the Scottish Gas National Open Short Course Championships in Tollcross, Glasgow on January 15 to 17, 2010.