Ashgill athlete Dean Patterson returned from the under-18 European Championships in Jerusalem with a bronze medal.
The 16-year-old, who was representing GB for the first time, made it to the men’s 200m final with strong runs in his heat and semi-final, and narrowly missed out on third with 21.39, only to fall foul of a disqualification decision.
The Glasgow School of Sport athlete raced again with a 300m leg for the medley relay on Thursday, with the British team finishing fourth.
But a disqualification decision against Denmark elevated them to third, earning them a bronze.
Mum Eileen says Dean was buzzing on his return, adding: “Dean’s still 16, so it’s great for him to come back home with a medal, no matter how he earned it.
“That was the aim, they’re totally delighted with it, and it’s good for them. Let’s hope Dean has shown them that he can perform. He’s had great experience, including the disqualification, and that’s all part of it.
“Hopefully he has done GB proud and he will be in their thoughts, so if there’s anything else coming up he’ll be considered.” Eileen added: “Dean didn’t get much of a chance to see Jerusalem, he really was in competition rules.
“They weren’t all at the stadium when others were competing because they had to stay out of the sun.
“That’s a wee bit of a shame, but it’s totally understandable – you don’t want them getting sunburned or sick, and not able to perform. It was probably only in the last day or two that, if they had friends competing, they were allowed to go and support them.
“He knew in his mind what was the right thing to do, and he definitely enjoyed the experience.”
Dean isn’t sitting back, however, and was immediately back in training.
Eileen explained: “Even though the schools are on holiday, Glasgow School of Sport still trains them through the summer.
"He’s going to Belfast this weekend, which is under SIAB, the Schools’ International Athletics Board, and that’s an international level event in his age group, under Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales schools.
“Dean’s hoping for more GB experience but also Scotland, but he was in awe of the kit when he was in Jerusalem.”
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