Click above to enter our Athlete Profile section. Over the next couple of months we will be developing this section of the web site as soon as the final Athlete selections are made.

Searching is by Sport then Surname.

Until then, here is an update on one of out swimmers, Alison Sheppard.

Athlete Profile - Alison Sheppard
Swiming

Alison originally comes from Milngavie and Bearsden in Glasgow but is now living and training on Vancouver Island in Canada. Her coach is husband Gary Vandermeulen, who swam for Canada at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Already pre-selected by Scottish Swimming, Alison will be competing in her fourth Commonwealth Games.

Q
When did you first start swimming?
A
I started swimming when I was eight at Milngavie and Bearsden Swimming Club.
Q
What are your major achievements to date?
A
2001 - 4th at World Championships 50m Freeslyle
2000 - Silver at Furopean Short Course Championships 50m Freestyle
2000 - 7th at Olympic Games 50m Freestyle and only British Woman to qualify for a final.
2000- Bronze at World Short Course Championships 50m Freestyle
1999 - Bronze at European Championships 50m Freestyle
1999- Bronze at World Short Course Championships 50m Freestyle
1998 -- Silver at Commonwealth Games 50m Freestyle
Commonwealth Record holder for 50m Freestyle, long course 25:00 seconds, set in Japan 2001 and short course 24:26 seconds, set in 2000
British Record holder 50m Butterfly long course 21:05 seconds, set in Glasgow, June 2001.

Q
What is a typical training day for you? Do you have to eat a special diet to keep you fit and what compromises do you have to make?
A
A typical day is to swim in the morning then to do gym work in the afternoon.
I usually work out for approximately five hours a day. I like to eat a balanced diet usually a bit of everything in moderation is OK. A lot of sacrifices are made as I am usually too tired after training for much of a social life!!
Q
Every athlete has a team of people to support them. Who is your support team?
A
My family is my support team - they like to think of themselves as the tartan Army!
Q
Who are your main rivals?
A
They probably are the English and Australian swimmers.
Q
Who is your sporting hero and inspiration?
A
My sporting hero is Lance Armstrong, American cycling world champion, two time Olympian, cancer survivor and winner of the 1999 Tour De France. That says it all!
Q
What will it mean to you to represent Scotland at next year's Commonwealth Games?
A
I am really looking forward to swimming for Scotland in Manchester as I am very patriotic and rarely get the chance to swim for Scotland,
Q
What are your hopes for the Commonwealth Games 2002 and the future?
A I am hoping to win two gold medals next year in the 50m Freestyle and also the 50m Butterfly. My future goal is to swim at my 5th Olympics in Athens in 2004.