Four-time Commonwealth Games medallist Neil Stirton is admits his heart went “through the roof” on the way to securing a silver medal yesterday.
The Aberdeen shooter was runner-up in the 50m rifle prone and said it was the most on edge he had felt for the best part of a decade in international competition.
Tuesday’s silver medal for Stirton was his fourth in four Games appearances, following up a silver he won in Melbourne 12 years ago and the gold and bronze in Delhi four years later. He was pipped to the gold by Wales’ David Phelps by 1.1 points at the Belmont Shooting Centre.
After finishing fourth in qualification for the final on Tuesday morning, the ante was upped heading into the medal shoot-off but Stirton held his nerve to claim silver.
He said: “I’m not going to lie, my heart rate went through the roof – I’ve not felt like that for 10 years. I had some fantastic shots and the perception of what’s going on around you is heightened. Everything is on edge, that’s why afterwards I was so mentally exhausted because of the sheer adrenaline.
“This is my fourth medal, none of which have come in Glasgow, which made me even more determined to prove to myself more than anything I still had it in me for top level international matches.
“The first goal was to make sure I shot well enough to make the final and I did that comfortably. The next goal was to get on the podium. I yo-yo’d up and down the leaderboard and bit and you could see everyone was struggling, with the pressure of the final and the wind. But I’m over the moon to add another medal to the tally.
“The crowd were going wild; there were people queueing outside to get in and it’s good to see the sport shone in such a positive light. The noise was electrifying and it’s not until you get to these bigger competitions that you experience it.
“The Germans in the Bundesliga air rifle have turned it round, bringing in klaxons and making as much noise as possible. That’s moved across to the World Cup circuit and the Commonwealths, where the crowd were told explicitly to make as much noise as possible and get behind the athletes, rather than sit there quietly. Part of that is for television but it also builds the whole atmosphere.”
Stirton will take today off as a rest day and he has taken time to sample other sports on the Gold Coast, watching netball, basketball, weightlifting and swimming in the first week. But his Games is not over: he goes in the 50m three positions on Saturday.
He added: “I’m delighted to have one medal and I’d be beside myself to come away with a second individual medal. The legacy started back in 2006 in Melbourne and to come back to Australia, this fantastic country that loves sport, and win another medal is unbelievable. I’m proud to be part of Team Scotland and meet so many warm, friendly athletes across all sports.”