Whitburn swim star in stunning Scottish championship showing

Jul 8 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WHITBURN swim sensation Megan Gilchrist powered her way to a stunning silver medal at the Scottish National Championships last week.

The teenager has firmly established herself as Scotland's number one woman's distance freestyle swimmer and she picked up the 800m free style Silver medal and the Scottish National Champion title just behind world number one and double Olympic champion, Rebecca Adlington at the championships in Glasgow.

In the championships, which also served as the Scottish Commonwealth Games nomination meet, Megan secured her nomination time for the 800m freestyle with an excellent time — her second fastest swim ever.

Now Gilchrist will head to Delhi as Scotland's only distance freestyle swimmer on the 15 strong team.

Speaking after the event, Megan said: “I'm happy with the time.

“I came into the meet without having been rested as I had already achieved a Games nomination time in March at the British Championships so to be still going fast is encouraging.

“I wanted a good 200m time which I got so I will also get to swim the four x 200m relay event in India.”

Megan, who is currently British number one over 1500m freestyle and number five at 800m freestyle, is studying Law at Swansea University and is coached by American, Bud McAllister, at the British Gas ITC in Swansea.

The Commonwealth Games will be the pinnacle of her swimming career to date and should serve as inspiration to other West Lothian swimmers.