Jamie Bowie is a Scottish 400-meter runner who competed in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He discusses how he has overcome various setbacks in his career through hard work and determination. Bowie believes that anyone can benefit from participating in sports, as it promotes well-being, teaches valuable life skills like teamwork, and can be an enjoyable social activity. He emphasizes enjoying the process of improving oneself through sports rather than comparing to others.

1. 10 Children in Scotland Winter 2014
Not everyone can be a world-class athlete, but we can all make the most of sport and
exercise to help us in life, Commonwealth Games star Jamie Bowie tells David A. Findlay
Going the distance
For us mere mortals, the sight of an athlete in full flow,
running to glory en route to yet another medal, may
seem like a different world. But even our nation’s finest
athletes started somewhere and their path to success
was never without its hurdles and holes.
Jamie Bowie, a competitor at this year’s
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and an
inspiring speaker at the recent Children in
Scotland sports conference, is no stranger to
stumbling blocks. His story
proves all young people
should never turn their
backs on sport or exercise
because of the benefits across the
board it could give them.
Jamie, who is the number one 400-metre runner in the
country, has endured his fair share of challenges, but it is
how he faced these head on that has made him the
athlete – and the man – he is today. Jamie explains:“In any
journey to success, there are always setbacks of some
sort, and it is how you deal with these setbacks that
define us as a person.
“I’ve had a fair share of my own setbacks, both personal
and sporting. Last year, after the excitement and joy of
being selected for the World Championships in Moscow
for the 4x400m, and after running the fastest relay leg
in the team, it was a very tough blow not to be selected
for the team in the final. It was the sensible way in which
I dealt with this that showed me to be a professional
athlete and ultimately made me more determined
to succeed.
“Even now I am dealing with the tough blow of losing
my British Athletics and UK Sport funding and support.
This will have a big impact on my preparations for the
2015 season and how I balance my work and training
life – but, if anything, it has made me more determined
to succeed in 2015.”
And he added:“My mentor, Frank, always reminds me that
in life and in sport,‘failure is not about falling off
your bike; failure is not getting back up on the bike’.”
There are some who believe only those that are good at
sport can truly benefit from taking part. Jamie dismisses
this as nonsense, adamant that all young people in
Jamie Bowie in action at this
year’s historic Commonwealth
Games in Glasgow
DECEMBER MagazineX_Layout 1 10/02/2015 13:28 Page 10

2. Winter 2014 Children in Scotland 11
“In life and in
sport, failure is
not about falling
off your bike;
failure is not
getting back
up on the bike”
Below: Jamie (left) goes through his paces in training, in Kilmarnock, ahead of the Games
Jamie’s career highlights and achievements:
l European Under-23 4x400m Relay Gold Medallist, Ostrava, Czech Republic, 2011
l Selected for World Championships in 4x400m Relay, Moscow, Russia, 2013
l World Indoor 4x400m Relay Silver Medallist, Sopot, Poland, 2014
l Selected for World Relays in 4x400m Relay, Bahamas, 2014
l Scottish Record in 4x400m Relay and fifth place at the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, 2014
l Scottish No.1 since 2011 in the 400m
l Second fastest Scot ever in Indoor 400m and fourth fastest Scot ever outdoors in 400m
Scotland can gain from taking part. He says:“There is, of
course, the obvious wellbeing benefit – for body and mind
– to taking part in sport and exercising regularly.This is
really important from a young age and all the way through
life, but we often forget that taking part in sport can be
great fun.
“There is a whole social side to sport and to exercising
with friends that we often don’t think about. Sport is a
great way for young people to develop, it teaches us a
number of valuable life skills like rewards through effort,
teamwork, dealing with challenges and adversity – and
that is at all levels of sport.
“When getting involved in sport you should always try to
keep focused on your own targets and goals, and especially
try not to compare yourself with others – everyone has
their own ‘pace’; people have different motivations and
develop at different rates.
“That is not to say don’t be competitive – you can be
competitive with yourself, set yourself targets and goals on
your progressions, fitness and skills.And, most importantly,
keep having fun and enjoy it! Most of us won’t reach the
heights already set by Jamie in what has been a sterling
career to date, but we can all appreciate how much he has
achieved through his dedication and hard work.
Asked about his special sporting moments, the first event
mentioned will come as a surprise to no-one:“One of the
biggest highlights of my career to date has to be the
Games, in Glasgow. I set a Scottish record in front of a
home crowd, which included friends and family. It was a
once-in-a-lifetime experience.The people of Glasgow
really made the Games a huge success and there was a
real buzz in the lead-up and all the way through.
“My biggest achievement, however, would have to be
my first global medal.When I won a medal at the World
Indoor Championships in Poland, the smile on my face
showed how much it meant to me.”
l In the next issue, we speak to wheelchair athlete
Samantha Kinghorn, who has become a champion in
disability sport following a tragic accident when she
was just 14 years old
DECEMBER MagazineX_Layout 1 10/02/2015 13:28 Page 11