PE teacher enjoys ‘roller-coaster’ Olympic Games

Hilary MacGuire, PE teacher at Lenzie Academy, was one of the official Games Makers at the London 2012 Olympic Games – working in the Olympic Stadium in London as part of the athletics equipment team.

As well as amazing memories, Hilary (51) also has another priceless memento – one of the relay batons used in the 4x100m event when the world record was smashed by Jamaica.

She said: “There were so many wonderful moments and some stressful too.

“It was similar to being on a roller-coaster with many highs and some lows, usually sore feet and tiredness.”

Highlights included meeting and talking to some of the world’s most famous athletes as they passed by – including Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford, Johan Blake and the legendary Usain Bolt.

Hilary, from Milton of Campsie, said: “Usain was a very friendly, cheeky, larger-than-life character. After he won both the 100m and 200m golds, I asked him to try to achieve gold and a world record with his team in the 4x100m relay – “yes ma’am” said Bolt as he gave me a high five!”

It was also incredibly hard work for Hilary and the Games Makers, with shifts starting at 7am, often ending at 11pm.

But she said: “Seeing these athletes prior to competing – mainly quiet, full of concentration and often very nervous, then emerging from the tunnel to face 80,000 spectators is definitely awe-inspiring.

“When Jess, Greg and Mo won gold, the stadium literally reverberated with the noise level – better than any rock concert.”

For the full story see this week’s Herald.

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