AN EAST Lothian boxing gym will be keeping a keen eye on the Commonwealth Games after one of its fighters was selected for the Scotland squad.
Eleven boxers will fly the flag for the host nation at the Games in Glasgow later this summer.
All 11 fighters will be making their debut at the event, with Lara Brown part of Team Scotland’s largest ever female representation in the sport at a Commonwealth Games.
John McCallum, coach of The Bronx Boxing Gym, was delighted to see the 18-year-old named in the squad.
He said: “I knew it the first time I saw her.
“I told her then she was going to the Commonwealth Games and I knew right away.
“You could tell she had a massive drive, was super fit and lives the life of an athlete.
“She is totally focused, for an 18-year-old girl she is totally focused.”
Joining Brown in the squad are Niamh Mitchell, who became the first Scottish female boxer to win a major international competition; six-times Scottish champion Stephanie Kernachan; Caitlin Rainey, a bronze medallist at the European Under-23 Championships in 2024; and four-time British and six-time Scottish champion Brooke Neely.
Brown, who took bronze at this year’s Gee Bee Tournament in Finland, is from Galashiels and makes the trip to Tranent’s Bronx Boxing Gym at least four times a week.
McCallum was confident that Brown, who will be fighting at 57kg, could be successful at the international event, with boxing taking place in the city’s SEC Centre from July 24 to August 1.
He said: “I think everything is possible for Lara.
“I think she will do really well in anything she does in life because she is really focused.
“If they have got that drive right away, everything else is easy.
“She is the first to turn up and the last to leave.
“She helps coach some of the youngsters in the gym as well and is a fantastic athlete.
“Everybody in the gym is looking forward to going to see her.”
The teenager has been a regular member of the gym for three years and stepped into the ring for the first time 12 months later.
She started at the gym through a connection between her dad, Nicky Brown, who is from Tranent, and coach Tommy Quinn.
Lara, who is targeting gold in Glasgow, told Courier Sport how she received the news that she would be representing Scotland.
The teenager, whose mum, Susannah Mack, is from Pencaitland, said: “One of the Scotland coaches phoned me when I was driving home from training.
“I was absolutely buzzing and instantly started crying.
“I was just so happy – it was the best day of my life.
“I am absolutely buzzing and the fact that it is a home Games makes it 10 times better.
“I am so excited.
“I think the home crowd will just push us all on 10 times more and really help.
“For it to be my first Games and a home Games, I am just so glad.
“It is genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland’s chef de mission, wished the boxers the best of luck.
She said: “I am delighted to welcome this talented boxing squad to Team Scotland for a home Games this summer.
“It’s particularly exciting to see a record female representation in the sport, amongst a group of boxers who have already achieved success on the international stage.”
Tickets for Glasgow 2026 can be bought at glasgow2026.com
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