David Florence set his sights on the heavens and became an Olympic star after becoming the first Scot to win a medal, a silver in canoe slalom, in Beijing yesterday.

David Florence set his sights on the heavens and became an Olympic star after becoming the first Scot to win a medal, a silver in canoe slalom, in Beijing yesterday.

As celebrations got under way for the stunning performance, it was revealed the Scot had recently applied to be an astronaut.

Florence, a physics graduate, was so keen to get on the course that he fibbed about speaking Russian on the application form, rushing to the library to bury himself in books on the language.

He never made it on to the European space programme - much to his mother's relief - but did succeed in reaching the Olympic podium after a dramatic day for Britain on the Shunyi rapids.

Florence, in fourth place heading into the final, produced a penalty-free run to claim Britain's fourth medal of the Beijing Olympics.

He said: "I have got an Olympic medal. I am absolutely delighted."

Of his astronaut application, he said: "The opportunity came along to try to do something absolutely incredible so I applied (to the European Space Agency).

"I didn't get in, but this was always the main focus. This is just a fantastic result after 10 or 11 years' hard work. I would have loved the gold, but I ended up with silver and a medal is what I have been after."

The sportsman celebrated his 26th birthday on Friday as the Olympics opened on a date - 8/8/08 - considered lucky by the Chinese. He prepared for Beijing by learning the local language, his ecstatic parents said.

His father, George, himself a former kayak champion, and Jill, his mother, were in Beijing to support their son.

Florence, who was born in Aberdeen but moved to Edinburgh as a child, went to Nottingham University, where his brother, Fraser, and sister, Lyndsey, currently study. He still lives in the city.

His mother said it was very difficult when he first left home aged 17: "He was a long way away and we missed him. We knew that down there, there was a lot of support.

"All the Scots who made it to Great Britain level all went there (Nottingham) because it was too difficult to train and do a degree at the same time."

In his first competitive slalom race 10 years ago, Florence capsized - but never gave up. It is a trait which has carried him on to Olympic glory.

His mother said: "When he decides he is going to do something he works hard at it. The plan now is for a big celebration."

The Florence family were not the only ones hatching plans for celebrations.

The Forth Canoe Club, based at the Union Canal in Edinburgh, was a focal point. David Cuthell, 56, treasurer and coach, said Florence, still a member at the Edinburgh club, was always exceptional. "When he puts his paddle in the water you can see the boat lift, he is so strong," he said.

The coach added: "David started in his teens. It is highly unusual to get to the Olympics from that point. But he is such an incredible physical specimen, he is a real athlete.

"Technically, the coaches had a lot to do, but he has developed and honed his technique. David considers Forth as his home club, and when he is in Edinburgh he comes to visit us and is a great inspiration."

He reiterated the concerns that top-level athletes in Scotland do not have the same level of support as their counterparts in other countries and often have to leave to train and develop.

The coach added: "The great thing about David is that he has come through a Scottish channel.

"His coach, Mark Delaney, is Scottish, the Scottish Institute of Sport does his strength and condition; his father was Scottish champion in kayak, and his brother is in the British team for kayak.

"So there has been a big Scottish input, but the thing about the Scottish athletes is that they can't stay in Scotland. What we need is more facilities for elite athletes."

Scotland Secretary Des Browne wrote to Florence: "You should be immensely proud of your achievement, and it is a source of great pride to me and many others in Scotland that you are one of the many Scots competing as part of Team GB."

Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "It's a fantastic achievement for him, and hopefully the first of many more medals for Scottish athletes competing in Beijing. The whole of Scotland is proud of him."

Glasgow's Campbell Walsh was less fortunate. The European champion was considered a strong medal contender but made a key mistake in missing the sixth gate, which he had to go back to complete, and it cost him heavily.

"It is frustrating as these opportunities don't come around very often," he said.