Evans battles nerves to become Scotland’s breakout star

Evans battles nerves to become Scotland’s breakout starImage source, PA MediaImage caption, Angharad Evans won two gold medals for Scotland in the poolByThomas DuncanBBC Sport Scotland at Tollcross International Swimming CentrePublished48 minutes agoAngharad Evans describes herself as a “nervous swimmer” who dare not even let herself think of getting a medal. She ended the Commonwealth Games swimming meet as Scotland’s breakout star.Double breaststroke gold, and a relay bronze and silver means her strategy of keeping expectations low must work. But after an imperious performance across the week at a raucous Tollcross, they will never be as low again.After recovering from a slow start, Evans powered to 200m breaststroke gold to add to her first place in the 100m on the final night of swimming action, during which Scotland claimed four medals.A couple of hours later Evans’ superb second leg helped Scotland into silver medal position behind Australia in the women’s 4x100m medley relay – her fourth medal of these home games.Only one of her training partners at Stirling University, Duncan Scott no less, tipped her for big things in Glasgow. Even Evans did not believe.”It’s been a big step forward in my career,” Evans told BBC Scotland.”There are things I’ve battled with this week. I don’t hide from my nerves – it’s something I’m very open about.”I’m a very nervous swimmer but I proved to myself that even though I am nervous I can get medals individually and in relays, even when I’m tired on the last day.”But it makes it a lot easier doing in front of a crowd like that and with your team-mates you train with every day.”Scotland win eight medals in five chaotic hours as Games hit halfway