Journey starts now after Bank of Scotland announce Local Heroes

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat

EVERY journalist has their own tale of a talent they witnessed in its embryonic stage, later blossoming into a world-renowned name.

MUTUAL RESPECT: Katherine Grainger and Jonathan Edwards with just three, Holly Reid, Allan Hamilton, Morven Shaw, of the 82 Bank of Scotland Local Heroes

The story is almost formulaic. Said journalist meets budding athlete/swimmer/boxer when he/she is a nobody. Said rookie then promptly, down the line, becomes a household name.

Journalist then insists he/she said the youngster in question would make it big, hoping to bask in the glory of his/her prescience.

You get the picture. There is a slight problem with the story in my case though, I don't (or more accurately didn't until recently) have one.

That all changed at the Bank of Scotland Local Heroes launch in Glasgow.

Bank of Scotland unveiled the 82 young athletes from across Scotland they are funding until the London 2012 Olympics and beyond.

Among them I had an embarrassment of riches I reckon in terms of my ‘I interviewed him/her when she was just starting out' opportunities.

It looks certain that there will be a strong hero presence at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and onwards to the Winter Olympics in Sochi of the same year and on to Rio in 2016.  And I plan on using them to my advantage in years to come.

Wrestlers Sean Keogh and Craig McKenna both represented Scotland at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October while figure skater Karly Robertson was a reserve for the Vancouver Winter Olympics earlier in the year.

I could easily go on.

One for is for sure too, Robertson, Keogh and co are in good hands if they are to achieve their Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth, World Championship etc goals.

Yes they will receive a £1,000 grant from Bank of Scotland but it was the role models on tap that struck me.

There were Olympic medallists, world champions and world record holders galore at the Scotstoun Leisure Centre with inspiration at every turn.

For the athletes among them, it doesn't get much better than picking the brains of world record holder and Olympic triple jump gold medallist Jonathan Edwards while the rowers could chew the fat with three-time silver medallist and five-time world champion Katherine Grainger.

And if they still weren't satisfied with their Olympic brain-picking potential there was the small matter of Athens 2004 diving 10m platform silver medallist Leon Taylor and modern pentathlete bronze medal winner Georgie Harland.

Now I am not going to pile the pressure on the youngster by saying anything as ridiculous as they've got no excuse following such a star-studded and inspirational day in Glasgow.

However, the athletes themselves were the first to recognise the magnitude of their lunch companions.

Edwards' presence reduced 19-year-old modern pentathlete Rebcecca Wain to an incredulous, ‘I mean, Jonathan Edwards! It's great."

These were feelings shared throughout the Glasgow venue but despite her lofty Olympic credentials,rower Grainger - silver medallist from Sydney, Athens and Beijing - admitted the waves of admiration were mutual.

As an ambassador Grainger was on hand to offer some advice to the 82 youngsters who, despite being at the peak of their age groups, are generally not widely funded.

And the 35-year-old - who will look to end her Olympic gold-medal hoodoo on home soil next year - was quick to praise the talent on show.

"Being at the workshop was incredible," said Grainger. "Seeing their desire and passion for the sport and what they do was great and I do think that they have the talent to have a great future."

She should know. And I will, of course, insist that I did all along.