Sophia Green and Cameron Main will have the rare honour of competing alongside each other at the Commonwealth Games.
The Elgin triathletes are a couple and will be part of the Team Scotland squad in both the individual and relay races in Birmingham.
Green had got one of the initial three spots but Main’s selection was closer run, only finding out late on he had been selected for the Games and thus allowing Scotland to enter a relay team.
Victory at a European Cup event in Coimbra, Portugal, last year helped push Green into contention for the Games, while the duo performed well at the European under-23 championships.
They will team up with Beth Potter and Grant Sheldon for the mixed relay on July 31 in Sutton Park.
Excited to officially announce my selection to represent Scotland at Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July. 🏴
I can’t wait to race, get out there, gain experience and see what I can do.
Thank you everyone that has helped me along the way and made this possible 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Sd1QUmQqtx
— Sophia Green (@sophiagreen27) June 8, 2022
“You need four athletes to compete – two male and two female – so we were waiting for that fourth spot to get confirmed,” said Main, who is the chairman of the Abbie’s Sparkle charity which was set up by his late younger sister in 2017.
Commonwealth Games is ‘something pretty special’
“We race for ourselves on the Friday and then as a team of four on Sunday. It’s the only moment you get as a Scottish athlete to represent your country on the biggest stage possible.
“For a Scottish athlete, this is like the Olympics. It’s something pretty special. I think myself and Sophia might be the only couple in the race so to be in the relay team together is going to be pretty cool.”
Both continued training in Elgin during lockdown two years ago. Main stayed with Green and the pair utilised a unique method to ensure their swimming – the most impacted part of their training – was able to continue.
“It was a pretty challenging time training on our own – usually we train as a group. When you’re doing three sessions a day that helps,” said Green.
“We had each other which was good and in terms of swimming, we got a paddling pool for the back garden, just for the feel of the water as we’d been out of it for so long.
“The running and cycling was pretty normal. When it was only one activity outside allowed, we would run outside and then use the turbo trainers indoors.”
Even though the pair have moved away from home – both attended university at Stirling – they still retain a strong attachment to their native Moray.
They owe a great deal of thanks to a number of local clubs which have helped with their training from a young age.
“Moray Road Runners, Elgin Cycling Club, Elgin Swimming Club, Moray Firth Triathlon – those four clubs have made a huge difference to us since we were kids,” said Main.
“We used to train with them all the time.
“Sophia was with Elgin Swimming Club from about the age of seven. We’re both honorary members at Moray Firth Triathlon and have a lot of respect for all of them.
“They’ve built us into the athletes we are today.”
