\n<\/p>\n
The kind of mental fortitude, perhaps, that enabled Gourley to get up in front of his fellow athletes in Nanjing and deliver a rousing captain’s speech, after he was given the honour of leading the British delegation.<\/p>\n
“Leave some room for the extraordinary to happen,” Gourley said, when asked what he told his team-mates. <\/p>\n
“Don’t just go in thinking you’ll do what you’ve been doing all season or compete within yourself.<\/p>\n
“You’ve got to go out there and believe something else is there and you can take some chances and have some ambition.”<\/p>\n
Gourley’s ambition is certainly paying dividends. World silver on the mantelpiece and world gold in his sights.<\/p>\n
There’s no chance his recent success will go to his head, however. <\/p>\n
Before arriving in Glasgow’s east end, Gourley apologised for being a little late. He’d just had a visit from UK anti-doping for an out-of-competition test. Another sign, perhaps, that his star is very much on the rise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n