At Hayling Island Sailing Club it is early morning, an hour regarded by any self-respecting student as part of that voluntary curfew during which he seeks the further embrace of sweet Morpheus. Not this teenager. Seemingly impervious to the chill gusts which buffet him, Giles Scott prepares to launch his Laser craft.

At Hayling Island Sailing Club it is early morning, an hour regarded by any self-respecting student as part of that voluntary curfew during which he seeks the further embrace of sweet Morpheus. Not this teenager. Seemingly impervious to the chill gusts which buffet him, Giles Scott prepares to launch his Laser craft.

It was unavoidable, but Olivia Rawlinson had to miss all six of her scheduled lessons on Friday. “Science, RE, Maths, English, Modern Languages - that’s Spanish - and History,” the Ramsey Grammar School pupil counted. Given her exceptional circumstances, it seemed fanciful to suppose she might have been required to hand in a note explaining her absence from school. “Yeah, I did, actually,” she countered. What? Saying, “I’m sorry, but Olivia won’t be at school for three weeks because she’s going off to Melbourne to swim in the Commonwealth Games”? “Yeah,” Olivia said, laughing.

Fresh, and still fresh-faced, from his sixth and sweetest professional victory, Amir Khan was back with the boys last week, turning up to encourage his former amateur mates as they prepared to fly off to Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games. But the Olympic silver medallist did more than wish them bon voyage. That night he stepped into the training ring at Crystal Palace, joining in their final squad session and passing on a hint or two that might help some of them to return with bullion of their own.

It was unavoidable, but Olivia Rawlinson had to miss all six of her scheduled lessons on Friday. “Science, RE, Maths, English, Modern Languages - that’s Spanish - and History,” the Ramsey Grammar School pupil counted. Given her exceptional circumstances, it seemed fanciful to suppose she might have been required to hand in a note explaining her absence from school. “Yeah, I did, actually,” she countered. What? Saying, “I’m sorry, but Olivia won’t be at school for three weeks because she’s going off to Melbourne to swim in the Commonwealth Games”? “Yeah,” Olivia said, laughing.