Jim Holt had been hugely excited at seeing his men come from finishing bottom on execution marks at the same competition last year to second place on execution marks on the opening day this time around. It demonstrated a huge improvement in what they are expecting of themselves as they build towards the Commonwealth Games.
Davie's performance symbolised the chance that presents itself to a group who are currently unknown in the wider sporting world but can change that in two years' time.
The 19-year-old had just missed out on a place in the high bar final by right but was granted a reprieve. "In Saturday's qualifying, he did a decent routine but was disappointed and he was first alternate for the finals," Holt said. "However the Norwegian coach came up to me on Sunday morning and said one of his gymnasts was scratching, so Liam was in. We just told him 'Do what you can do and be clean'. He was, right up until he had a little hop on the dismount and he came off.
"He said that it shouldn't have happened, but it was a good routine and we couldn't have been happier for him when the scores came up. When you are given that opportunity, you have to grab it. Liam did it on the day and we are looking for a lot of great days from him."
The same applies to the rest of the group who showed similar intensity, as their coach pointed out. "I was thrilled with what we did," Holt added. "Through five of the six events we had 15 counting routines with no errors. Four of these five gymnasts took part in the same competition last year and we had 11 falls in 18 counting events and finished last of the nine nations in execution.
"This time we had two falls in 18 counting events and, with a near 20-point improvement in the team score, we finished second in execution behind Finland, who have had a world champion in the very recent past.
"What was particularly gratifying, though, was the number of times guys hit their routines but then came off and said that, if only they had squeezed that little bit harder, it could have been better. We are now fighting for every tenth and that is the way it has to be in a sport where you can probably never achieve perfection but must always strive for it."
Holt's only responsibility is for the men's team but he also drew great encouragement from the performance of Scotland's women who, with the sport currently in administrative flux, are operating without a national head coach yet finished third overall, while Amy Regan's performance in the vault final earned her a silver medal to go along with the team bronze.
"You have to give such credit to the women and their personal coaches that they did so well," said Holt. "Their success is a really positive thing for Scottish gymnastics because it gives us the opportunity to be a team that is working together towards Glasgow 2014. Seeing them step up the way they did will only help all of us."
