STAFF at Glasgow's school for elite sporting talent hope the Olympic silver medal success of ex-pupil Michael Jamieson will be the first of many.

Former Glasgow School of Sport pupil Michael Jamieson won silver in the 200m breaststroke at the London 2012 Olympic Games – smashing the British record in the process.

The 23-year-old swimmer was competing in his first ever Olympic Games and is the Glasgow School of Sport's first ever Olympian.

Jamieson, who also won silver in the same event at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, came home in 2mins 7.43secs, narrowly behind Hungary's Daniel Gyurta, who set a new world record of 2min 7.28secs on Wednesday.

It was a special moment not only for Jamieson and millions of British sports fans, but also for the staff and pupils at the Bellahouston school.

Set up in 1999 with the specific purpose of identifying and nurturing the best sporting talent from the city and beyond, the Glasgow School of Sport has a roll of 112 pupils.

Glasgow man Jamieson is the first to make it all the way to the Olympics and the very top of the sporting world.

Director of Glasgow School of Sport, Angie Porter, said: "We're all so proud of Michael and his performance is something we really didn't dare to dream of.

"To have our first former pupil reach the Olympic Games at all was amazing enough, then to see him make it to the final was something else.

"And then for Michael to win that silver medal, we were stunned and so pleased.His performance is a massive inspiration to our pupils, but it also makes their dreams more tangible. He is one of their own and now they are seeing him in newspapers and on the TV.

"It also shows that this is a game of patience and while the pupils might not be at Olympic or Commonwealth level while they are with us, if they continue to do the right things and get the right training then anything is possible."

Since first opening its doors 13 years ago, Glasgow School of Sport has helped develop and nurture some of Scotland's top young athletes and sports stars through its commitment to sporting and academic excellence.

The school has five sport specialisms – athletics, badminton, gymnastics, hockey and swimming, with pupils focussing on one key sport. Entry is by selection only.

Pupils carry out their academic studies at Bellahouston Academy, where the School of Sport shares a campus.

It is Scotland's first school dedicated to sporting excellence and is funded by the Scottish Government and run in partnership between Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life.

Councillor Stephen Curran, Glasgow City Council's executive member for education, said: "Everyone in Glasgow is so very proud of Michael and his Olympic success.

"This is Glasgow School of Sport's first Olympian and let's hope our sporting stars of the future at the school will emulate Michael's commitment and dedication in Glasgow 2014 and future sporting events.

"I hope he is the first of many youngsters and former pupils to reach the pinnacle of their sporting career on the world stage."

Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of the council, said: "To qualify for your first Olympics and then reach the podium shows just what Michael is capable of and that bodes well for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games when he will be no doubt going for gold."

Jamieson, from Robroyston, is expected to be at Celtic Park on Saturday when his favourite team are presented with the League Champions flag ahead of their opening game against Aberdeen.

And as they come down from the high of Michael Jamieson's Olympic triumph, the staff and pupils at Glasgow School of Sport hope their most famous son will also drop in for a visit at the school to show off his medal.

Ms Porter added: "We have a special place in our Hall of Fame display where Michael will hopefully give us an Olympic T-shirt or piece of memorabilia to take pride of place."

stef.lach@heraldandtimes.co.uk