Isle of Wight discus ace Nick Percy in Commonwealth Games

Nick, 27, of Bonchurch, will be representing Scotland at the Games, with a great chance of winning gold following his stunning performances already this summer — winning national titles and breaking his own Scottish record no fewer than four times.

His greatest achievement has been winning the UK Athletics Championships, with an astounding 65.00m thrown in Manchester a few weeks ago.

Nick likened it to breaking the ten-second barrier in the 100m sprint.

He also won the Welsh Senior Championships — to give him a clean sweep of national title victories — together with wins at the Meeting Iberoamericano in Spain and the Loughborough International.

Nick chalked up his first breaking of his own Scottish record at the USATF Golden Games in California.

He broke it again at the World Athletics Bronze Continental Tour’s Limassol International in Cyprus, coming third.

Last week, he came 14th out of globe’s 32 best discus throwers at the World Championships, in Oregon.

Nick, currently 13th in the world rankings — and steadily climbing this year — has seen his performances go from strength top strength since he linked up with new coach Zane Duquemin this year.

After waiting six years to improve his personal best, upping it four times this summer has given Nick a huge confidence boost ahead of the Games, he says.

“We had three or four years of a lot of struggle. It’s been a long road,” said Nick.

Glasgow-born Nick has been spending a few days relaxing at home on the Island, before he heads to Team Scotland’s holding camp on Monday to train, without interruption, before heading to the Games village, with the qualifying round starting Tuesday week, August 2.

Barring injury, Nick will expect to be in the final two days’ later.

“My preparations for the Games have been amazing — I couldn’t have planned this summer any better, with a PB at the British Championships to win the title for a fifth time, winning multiple international titles across Europe and keeping a high level of consistency” said Nick.

“This has been the key to breaking into the top ranks of men’s discus and, hopefully, at these Commonwealth Games I’ll be able to reap the rewards of my hard work.”

The Islander, who will be hoping to represent the IW at the Island Games in Guernsey next year, is also a proud Scot.

“It is the highest honour to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games. There is no other time to wear the Team Scotland thistle at a major championships, so it’s a very small family of athletes who can say they have achieved this standard,” adds Nick.

“It has been eight years since I last wore the Team Scotland uniform, due to my university commitments, so I’m so excited to get back to the Games — and hopefully make the final — as I missed out in 2014 as a 19-year-old by one place. 

 “It is the dream to win a medal. There is a very small club of Scottish athletes who can say they have medalled at a Commonwealth Games.

“My event has eight Olympians ahead of me, which makes it a very tough goal, but I know I’m up to the challenge.

“I have the European Championships two weeks after the Games, which is a high priority for me, but I would love to see a top five finish, and maybe even a place on the podium at the Games, which would be a dream come true.”