CLYDEBANK’S own Commonwealth hopeful Carly Smith is hoping to make history at the Games.

The 17-year-old is a key member of Team Scotland’s gymnastic squad who are bidding to beat the national best of a fifth place finish at the event.

Carly, a member of City of Glasgow Gymnastic Club, spoke to SportScene as she prepared for the run up to the Games — admitting she couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of taking part in front of a home crowd.

She said: “It feels absolutely incredible to be competing for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, the fact it is my first Games and it’s in my hometown makes it all the more special.

“I am extremely excited about competing in the Hydro as it is an amazing arena.

“I’ve been working hard on trying to perfect my routines and I have been working on my consistency so when it comes to the competition I will be confident and ready.

“I am very eager to start competing as I have been preparing for this competition for a long time and cannot wait, as most of the audience will be Scots roaring on Team Scotland.” Carly has been involved in international competition since a young age, having competed at the Youth Commonwealth Games on the Isle of Man in 2011 where she made the all-round and beam finals — and is looking forward to making the step up to the senior squad when the action kicks off.

She said: “As it is my first Commonwealth Games I am just looking to go out and see what it is like competing at such a high profile competition.

“I would like to thank my coach Sandra Walsh, who has spent many hours a day with me in the gym trying to make my performance as special as possible, and also my family, especially my parents for all the support they have given me throughout this process.

“I have taken the step up to senior level to compete alongside Olympians so I’m going to go out and just do my best and smash my routines.

“Hopefully as a team we can make history and rank above fifth.”