SPRINT star Maria Lyle will travel to Australia in the spring after being confirmed as part of Team Scotland for the Commonwealth Games.
The 17-year-old from Dunbar, who has cerebral palsy, was one of 25 athletes announced today (Tuesday) as part of the Scotland squad.
Lyle, a Dunbar Grammar School pupil (pictured below by Victoria Jones/PA Wire) who won three medals - a silver and two bronze - at the Paralympic Games in Rio last year, is part of an impressive trio of para-athletes.
She is joined by Sammi Kinghorn, the senior member of the three at 21, along side 18-year-old Amy Carr, who won two gold and a bronze at this summer’s World Junior Championships.
Christmas cheer for Team Scotland as 25 track & field athletes named alongside men's Beach Volleyball pair & boxer Sean Lazzerini for Gold Coast 2018! #TeamScot2018 #GC2018https://t.co/CfIHZ89CP1 pic.twitter.com/7Tx1RwZ6Td
— Team Scotland (@Team_Scotland) December 12, 2017
And the teenager is looking forward to making her Commonwealth Games debut.
Oi oi Australia, I’m coming for you! Buzzed to wear the Scottish vest out in Oz (best vest out there)!! 🏴🇦🇺💙☀️ https://t.co/Lll7y8FZY4
— Maria Lyle ∞ (@Lyle_Maria) December 12, 2017
Nineteen of the athletes named today were part of the team that delivered their best Commonwealth Games medal haul for 20 years in Glasgow three years ago.
Rodger Harkins, performance director at scottishathetics said: “I want to offer my congratulations to the athletes and coaches selected.
"They have really performed well in the past year and made a commitment to the Commonwealth Games and to a Gold Coast event being held in April.
"I’m really pleased with the application and planning that’s already being shown and has been shown over the past few months."
And Jon Doig, Team Scotland chef de mission, passed on his congratulations.
He said: “Congratulations to all selected today, as we welcome a great mix of experienced athletes and those who will be part of Team Scotland for the first time."
Lyle joins bowlers Alex Marshall and Derek Oliver among the athletes already confirmed as travelling to the Gold Coast.
READ: County bowlers selected in Commonwealth Games squad
Also in the squad is boxer Mitchell Barton, who is from Berwick-upon-Tweed but trains at the Bronx Boxing Gym in Tranent.
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