Shanahan keen to emulate idol Miley in Glasgow

Scottish swimmer Katie Shanahan wants to replicate her idol Hannah Miley by winning gold at this summer's home Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Shanahan, 21, has been included in the 25-strong Team Scotland swimming squad for the event, which takes place at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in July.

In a glittering career, Aberdeenshire's Miley won two Commonwealth golds in the 400m individual medley, with the second coming in Glasgow in 2014.

That victory, and the event as a whole, was a huge source of inspiration for a young Shanahan.

"I have a few memories of watching that, especially Hannah Miley in that first night when she won gold," Shanahan told BBC Scotland.

"I remember watching and implementing her as being my idol because I was like, 'she has just won a gold medal in Glasgow that is so cool'.

"From then I was like, 'I want to do that, I want to be there, I want to be winning medals'. It does leave a legacy. That is what the Games want to do - they did that for me and hopefully any other little girls that are watching in the summer want to get into the sport or keep going.

"She did all the same events I did growing up and it got to the point where I was actually racing her.

"After the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham when I got the bronze medal she messaged me and I was like, 'oh my god I have made it'. If I could follow in her footsteps that would be amazing because she was Scotland's best female swimmer."

Shanahan was on the podium twice at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, winning bronze medals in the 400m individual medley and the 200m backstroke.

Two years later she went to her first Olympics in Paris and made the final in the same two events, finishing seventh and fifth, respectively.

Shanahan believes the experience gained in France will hold her in good stead going forward.

"It has helped me a lot," she said. "Coming into the Commonwealth Games I have had that experience and it makes it easier for me to come in to the summer.

"I am a lot more calm, I know what to expect and I know what to do, which is good. I will be racing a few of the girls I was racing at the Olympics - they are tough competitors so it will be good."

Although she has competed on the biggest stage, Glasgow-born Shanahan says swimming in front of a home crowd will be her career highlight to date.

"One hundred per cent," she said. "I know that from 2014, for some people that was the highlight of their career as well.

"My family are really excited to come and watch. When I sent my mum the photos this morning of the announcement she started crying."