Late Jim Robertson ‘would be so proud’ of Shetlander set to officiate at Commonwealth Games
Kirsti Morris will oversee races at this summer’s event in Glasgow
A SHETLAND swimming official is set to fulfil a promise to the legendary late Jim Robertson by officiating at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Kirsti Morris has been selected to oversee races at the massive sporting event between late July and early August, after a rapid rise through the sport over the last 10 years.
Morris said she cried “tears of shock and joy” after finding out last December that she had been recommended by Scottish Swimming to officiate at the Commonwealth Games.
And she said that her late mentor Jim Robertson, a hugely popular figure in local swimming, had told her years earlier that she would do just that.
“I said ‘yes Jim’ and rolled my eyes, as I often did, as I never dreamed that I would make it to the Commonwealth Games,” Morris told Shetland News this week.
“He wanted me to have the experiences he never got to have as an official.
“I could not be prouder of myself to have made it, and I am doing so in memory of Jim – I know he would be so proud of me too if he was here to share it with me.”
Morris began officiating at the age of 14 after leaving competitive swimming behind following an injury, having represented Shetland at a national level in the pool.
After her injury, Morris said it was “definitely my time to leave competitive swimming”, but she said she was “not ready to leave swimming completely and I don’t think I ever will be.”
Morris started by completing her timekeeper’s course before progressing through her technical official qualifications.
She said it was “important to me to give back” to her swimming club, Lerwick ASC, and the wider sport in Shetland.
“So many parents and other volunteers had given up their time to help me whilst I was swimming,” she said.
“I was coached as a swimmer at LASC by my close family friend Jim Robertson who was also a referee.
“When I stopped swimming, he suggested that I began officiating so I was still involved with the sport which I loved.”
Morris said she knew she would enjoy officiating before even starting because it still allowed her to “watch competitions from a front row seat”.
And she added she was “acutely aware” of how many volunteers were needed to make a swimming competition run smoothly, with as many as 20 officials needed for a meet at Clickimin.
Her officiating journey has taken her to numerous Scottish national events, as well as to Sheffield to officiate for Swim England.
That paved the way for this summer’s Commonwealth Games – but Morris never thought she would have a chance of officiating there.
“When I found out that the games would be held in Glasgow, I was very excited to have the opportunity to watch them in person,” she said.
“I knew there would be some Scottish officials selected to be part of the team however, I never thought I would be one of them.
“After discovering I made the criteria for applying, I submitted an application and crossed my fingers.
“I honestly did not think that I would be selected – a young official from Shetland who has only been officiating for 10 years.”
But on 23 December last year, Morris got the news that Scottish Swimming had nominated her to officiate at the games.
“I cried tears of shock and joy,” Morris said of her reaction.
“This was particularly emotional for me as it was part Jim’s five step plan for me.”
Before Robertson’s passing in 2020 from motor neurone disease, Morris said he had outlined five goals for her – “to qualify as a recorded, starter, referee, officiate at the Commonwealth Games and then the Olympics”.
“The Olympics is still a work in progress,” she said.
But her Commonwealth dream is set to be recognised next month, and Morris called it a “once in a lifetime experience”.
“Working alongside highly experienced World Aquatic referees and other officials is daunting but an experience I am extremely excited for,” she added.
Morris paid special tribute to Lerwick ASC, who she started swimming with at the age of eight.
She said she had joined the club at a “challenging point in my childhood”, and that they had “helped me focus on something positive”.
“I became part of a wider family, one which I still hold very close to my heart.
Swimming has opened so many doors for me that I would not have had access to otherwise.
“Being part of the swimming community both locally and nationally is an honour which I am delighted to hold – I have made some of my best friends on this journey and I have LASC to thank for that.”
She encouraged anyone interested in becoming an official to get in touch with Lerwick ASC, and said people do not need to have had any prior involvement with swimming.
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