2022 Athlete Travel Award Scheme Profile – Max Linklater

This year Max Linklater is one of 11 local athletes benefiting from the sportscotland Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS).

Name

Max Linklater

Age

15

Sport

Athletics

Chosen field

Jumps

Main events

High Jump and Long Jump

What inspired you to take up your sport?

I love sport and I have been taking part in lots of sports for as long as I can remember.  My parents signed me up for the Athletics Club when I was nine and I have enjoyed being part of it ever since.  When I started, training was a mixture of running, jumping and throwing and I have kept that up because I like doing all of them.  The discipline I have reached the highest level in is high jump, so that is my main focus.  This season, I tried long jump more seriously for the first time and I have really enjoyed it, so I am now competing in it as well.

Best achievement this ATAS year?

Winning gold at the Scottish Schools Championships in high jump.  I didn’t go expecting to win it, but everything came together on the day, and I jumped a PB of 1.75m.  I think the fact that there was a really good level of competition pushed me to do better.

What does ATAS support mean to you?

Being able to compete south is really important to help me keep improving, by giving me lots of opportunities to compete at a high level.  It is really expensive to go up and down for all of the events I need to compete in, especially during the winter when they are all in Glasgow, so I am very grateful for getting some financial help.  Next year is a really big year for me as I will be in the older year of my age group, so I hope to be pushing for podium places at the big Scottish competitions, and I am also going to be competing in the International Island Games in Guernsey.  Getting the support from ATAS to keep competing at the highest level this year, has helped me to prepare well for the upcoming year.

The Scheme is an ongoing partnership between sportscotland and the participating local authorities in Highlands & Islands - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils.

Orkney Islands Council are extremely grateful to also have a partnership with Stagecoach which allows us to enhance and extend our programme in Orkney.