Scottish Swimming Legend Backs IPC World Champs

A 3D street art swimming pool was opened by Scottish swimming legend David Wilkie today in Glasgow’s city centre.

The pool was located at the top of Buchanan Street where David Wilkie, 61, was joined by IPC European silver medallist Scott Quin to discuss the upcoming IPC Swimming World Championships.

The championships are being held at Glasgow’s Tollcross International Swimming Centre on 13-19 July 2015.

Scott Quin is a member of the British para-swimming team and will be swimming for gold at the World Championships this July.

He said: “It’s pretty incredible, it’s just insane to even say it because it’s still a year of that legacy from last year’s Commonwealth Games for people and I think there’s still that feel good vibe around Glasgow from hosting the Commonwealth Games.

“I would love for it to be a good turnout, it won’t be as many as at the Commonwealth Games but I hope we could get a good amount of crowd in.”

“Especially that first night on the 13 July, that’s when I’ll be competing and being a Scottish lad I’ll be expecting some of my other Scottish companions around Scotland to support me.”

David Wilkie won 1976 Olympic Gold in Montreal and won his first major medal at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

He said: “You always raise the standard when you’re competing in front of your home crowd.

“In 1970 I was 16-years-old in Edinburgh… I just wish I was a little bit older, a little bit more mature and could really sort of live and enjoy what the experience was.

“I think Glasgow’s getting used to other sports apart from football, because it’s a city steeped in the traditions of football and now it’s sort of getting a tradition in swimming.

“You’ve got the Commonwealth Games, the IPC Swimming World Championships, I think in a couple of years you’ve got the European Championships.”