Charlie Flynn credits Youth Games with help in rise
The 21-year-old competed at the last Youth Games in the Isle of Man before going on to be one of the stars of the main Commonwealth Games on home soil last summer. After winning the lightweight boxing title at the SSE Hydro and conducting one of the most entertaining post-victory TV interviews in history, the Newarthill fighter has turned pro amid a whirlwind of post-Games publicity. “I know it’s crazy that it’s almost been a year,” said the ‘Mailman’. “I still can’t believe it was four years since I was here involved in the Youth Games. But I’ve never known a year go by so fast as the last one, so much has happened. A lot of coverage and interest in what I’m doing. And people keep reminding you of things so it stays fresh in your mind.”
Flynn is sure that his Youth Games experience was a key step on the road to Glasgow glory and said: “It’s great. It helps them build their confidence and experience. There’s not a great deal of pressure, but it puts them under the spotlight of a multi-sports tournament and they need to pull off a performance.
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Hide Ad“It helped me a lot. I got to the final of the Youth Games and lost, though I thought I’d won it, but that doesn’t matter. The fact I got to that final told me there was nothing stopping me doing it again in the real Games.
“I fought against fighters from England, South Africa and Ghana, all these places, at the Youth Games and beat them all. So there was nothing stopping me doing it in the seniors. It gave me self-belief, self-esteem and confidence.
“When you then come to a senior Games, everything is not as new or scary. You’ve done your dress rehearsal and it’s time to perform. A Youth Games is exciting and fun but the big thing is you can go out and win something, too.”
Flynn has won his first three professional bouts and next month will feature on the undercard of the Anthony Crolla and Scott Quigg world title fights in Manchester.
“I’m feeling confident and super fit,” he said. “It’s up from four rounds to six, so it’s moving up the rounds. But I’ll do six rounds comfortably.”
Ex-postal worker Flynn hasn’t been in to the mail room since Christmas, but is hoping to pop in and see his former workmates in the next week or so.
“Training full-time now is massive,” he said. “You look at what I was doing when I was fitting my training around working and I was still beating everyone. Now to be able to go full-time I can hopefully fulfil my full potential.”
SQUAD
Struan Caughey, 16, Elgin - Archery
George Evans, 17, Inverness - Athletics
Billy Stuart, 17, Aberdeen - Boxing
Richard Hollins, 17, Aberdeen - Squash
Kieran Preston, 18, Aberdeen - Swimming
Carla Banks, 16, Inverurie – Lawn Bowls
Alisha Rees, 16, Banchory - Athletics
Ben Greenwood, 16, Perth - Athletics
Rowan Morrogh Bernard, 14, Pitlochry Weightlifting
Benedict Tortolano, 17, Stirling - Swimming
Rachel Alexander, 17, Glasgow - Athletics
Sean Lazzerini, 17, Glasgow - Boxing
Jason Epton, 14, Glasgow - Weightlifting
Daniel Richardson, 15, Glasgow - Weightlifting
Meg Finnon, 17, East Kilbride - Swimming
William Hutchison, 16, Lanark - Boxing
Kieran McMaster, 18, Kilmarnock - Boxing
Darren Weir, 15, Prestwick – Lawn Bowls
Erin Robertson, 16, Ayr - Swimming
Euan Moore, 17, Fenwick, Ayrshire - Tennis
Biatrice Gabell, 17, Dalry, Ayrshire - Weightlifting
Carrie Hallam, 17, Edinburgh - Squash
Tain Bruce, 17, Dalgety Bay - Swimming
Craig McLean, 16, Livingston - Swimming
Cameron Tindle, 17, Berwick - Athletics
Carys McCauley, 17, Warrington, England – Athletics
*Evelina D’Arcy, 15, Athens, Greece
TBC - one female mixed doubles tennis player