Highland Disability swim team wins first national title in Inverness
Highland Disability’s Swim Team have become Scottish champions after winning in home waters.
The Scottish Disability Sport National Senior Swimming Championships were held in Inverness last weekend, with the Highland squad winning for the first time ever.
It was the first time the competition had taken place since 2019 because of the pandemic, and the first time many of the Highland athletes had competed since the on-set of Covid-19.
For some, that only served to increase the tension, but Highland coach Susan McCreadie says that did not last long after finally returning to the water competitively.
“We were just having races in-house,” she explained.
“It is difficult when you’re in competition and you’ve not done it for a while. There were a few nerves going about, but after the first race they were fine.
“The team deserve the recognition. They’re there week in, week out, they do everything that’s asked of them and it’s a reward for them after all these years of putting in the practice.
“For a lot of the swimmers getting back out there after Covid, their stamina and their stroke wouldn’t have been as good as it was.
“They had to work hard to get back to where they were, so it was amazing.
“I never ever thought that we would become Scottish champions.”
Highland’s athletes competed in individual races, with their medal haul hitting the best total of any of the other squads involved.
Everyone shared in the success with 22 gold medals, 12 silver and nine bronze, but it was the strength of Highland’s team ethos on the day that McCreadie was most proud of.
“To be honest, when you’re at a swimming competition, you’re all together as a team,” she added.
“Obviously all the Inverness swim team were saying ‘well done’ to everybody, so it was just a nice day for everyone.
“It’s usually held at the Tollcross in Glasgow, but I think that was closed.
“It was a big day having it in Inverness, but it was amazing for them to win it.
“West of Scotland are usually the ones who win it, but they all just swam their hearts out.
“It is the first time ever that Highland are Scottish champions, so it was just amazing for them. It means the world, because getting a medal is a reward for doing your best.
“It was the camaraderie of it all – they cheered each other on, so it was just lovely.”