FIVE of East Lothian’s finest athletes are on the hunt for glory in Australia as the Commonwealth Games get under way in Gold Coast this week.

Swimmer Dan Wallace joins bowler Alex Marshall and para-weightlifter Micky Yule, all of whom were part of the Scotland squad at the Games in Glasgow in 2014, while Cockenzie and Port Seton bowler Derek Oliver and para-sprinter Maria Lyle will both compete in their first Commonwealth Games.

The quintet took part in the opening ceremony yesterday (Wednesday) and are in their final preparations before the competition begins.

Wallace, 24, who grew up in Dunbar and moved to North Berwick, said he was “really excited”.

Four years ago in Glasgow, Wallace shot to fame as he won gold in the 400m individual medley and silvers in the 200m individual medley and 4x200m freestyle.

Hs cry of “freedom” as he swam to Commonwealth gold saw him make headlines across the world.

He has since added a World Championship gold medal and Olympic silver, both won in the relay, to his collection but not everything has been positive for him.

Last year, he was stripped of his funding and suspended from the British Swimming programme for three months after admitting to drink-driving.

But the county star believes he is going into this competition with a different attitude than four years ago.

He added: “I love being a team player so that’s my attitude going into these Games: ‘What can I do for the team?’

“That’s a difference compared to what I was like before Glasgow – four years ago, I was a really young swimmer whereas this time around, I’m a bit older and can give a bit more back to the team.”

Wallace has his sights firmly set on the relay, which he believes will be a “really tough race”, adding: “We’ve got a very good team too and we’re feeling good.”

Meanwhile, bowls legend Marshall has missed out on the chance to lead Team Scotland into the opening ceremony of the Games, with Eilidh Doyle, Scotland’s most decorated track and field athlete, becoming the first-ever woman to carry the flag at Carrara Stadium on Wednesday morning.

Marshall previosuly carried the flag into the closing ceremony at Hampden four years ago, after Pencaitland’s judo star Euan Burton led the Scottish team into the opening ceremony at Celtic Park.

Marshall, from Tranent, was looking forward to his sixth Commonwealth Games and hoping to add to his four golds, two of which came on home turf four years ago.

He said: “We worked hard in Glasgow 2014 and that’s something we’re here to replicate this year.

“For me, it’s important to remember that we [Marshall and former East Lothian star Paul Foster, his pairs team-mate] are considered the pair to beat – and that we’ve put in all the hard work and training to get to this point.”

The five county stars have all moved to the athletes village and are continuing their preparations.

Last week, Dunbar sprinter Lyle, 18 – who won three medals at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro two years ago – took time out from her training schedule to feed some kangaroos,

While Wallyford’s para-powerlifter Yule – who narrowly missed out on a medal four years ago when he finished fourth – has been hard at work in the gym.