Eilidh Child has urged her Scotland team-mates to stay calm as Glasgow prepares to host next week’s Commonwealth Games.
The athletics programme will kick-off at Hampden four days after next Wednesday’s Celtic Park opening ceremony and excitement levels are already reaching fever pitch across the city.
But Delhi silver medallist Child, the most experienced member of the Scots’ 58-strong track, field and marathon squad, is wary of athletes “getting carried away” ahead of Glasgow 2014.
Even outside of their busy training schedules, the medal hopefuls will face a range of demands on their time in the games build-up as they sort ticket requests, deal with family and friends and requests from the media.
But Pitreavie athlete Child, who will compete in the 400m hurdles and the 4 x 400m women’s relay in a hectic Hampden schedule , said: “For the younger ones, my advice would be: don’t get too carried away.
“Because you are a Scottish athlete, people will want to put medals around your neck in advance.
“It is excitement, enthusiasm and only natural. But you have to focus and remember what your own goals are and what your coach’s expectations are those are liable to be more realistic.
“You have to keep that uppermost in your mind and not be carried along too much or distracted in any way.
“We all have to try and not get too nervous with the pressure. Of course you want to enjoy it and savour it. I want to embrace everything myself. But you also want to be able to come away and think you performed to your best.”
Child felt Scottish athletes did benefit from a home crowd factor at the Glasgow International indoor event at the Emirates Arena in January.
“I think performances improved at the Glasgow International thanks in some way to the crowd,” she said.
“The noise that met us then was incredible and people stepped up to the mark.”