Duncan hopes to sign off golden year in style
Stirling swimmer’s coach also up for top gong
The winners of the annual Sunday Mail and sportscotland Scottish Sport Awards will be crowned later this week.
Competition is as fierce as ever with Stirling-based swimmer Duncan Scott and his coach Steven Tigg high on the list of nominees.
Now in its 12th year, the event which is sponsored by sportscotland – the national agency for sport – celebrates excellence throughout Scottish sport by rewarding sportsmen, women, teams and volunteers for their outstanding achievements in 2018.
The annual event also recognises the work and commitment of the many coaches and officials who do so much at a grassroots level.
Duncan has enjoyed a remarkable year in the pool and is a finalist in the sports personality of the year category.
With three gold medals and a silver at the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, University of Stirling freestyle swimmer Scott added to his six medals from this year’s Commonwealth Games, which made him the most successful Scot at a single Games. He was selected to carry the Team Scotland flag at the closing ceremony.
Despite his medal-laden year, Duncan insists there is still more to come.
He said: “I wouldn’t say I’m at the top of the game at the moment. As good as an achievement as the Games is a lot of great nations are missing, America to name one. They have a huge dominance within world swimming so there’s plenty more for me to do.”
Steven Tigg, finalist in the coach/manager of the year category, also coaches Ross Murdoch, Aimee Wilmott, Kathleen Dawson and Craig McLean.
He said he was full of praise for those he coaches and added: “They have to want to be there and it’s our job as coaches to make them want to come to the pool and to make them want to hang around after sessions and support each other. They are there to be the best they can be and to enjoy that process – they work hard when they need to and work smart when they need to.
“Ultimately the one thing we say is there are shortcuts to a lot of things in life now but there is never going to be a shortcut to being successful in sport.”
Chair of sportscotland, Mel Young, added: “It’s been another momentous year for Scottish sport at all levels with our athletes once again showing they have what it takes to win medals against the very best in the world.
“But it’s not just at a performance level where sport is hitting the headlines.
“Attendances at the national Active Schools programme have reached 7.3million – an all-time high. There are also now 192 Community Sport Hubs in operation across the country, further increasing participation opportunities.
“And just in the last few weeks we announced that a
The Sunday Mail and sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards recognise excellence throughout Scottish sports.
Now in it’s 12th year, the 2018 event which is sponsored by sportscotland – the national agency for sport will highlight our sporting heroes at what promises to be an unforgettable awards ceremony on the 6th of December at Glasgow’s Doubletree by Hilton Glasgow Central. record number of schools – 673 in total – have achieved a School Sport Award for putting school sport at the heart of their ethos. It’s certainly been a year to remember.”
Visit www.sportfirst. sportscotland.org.uk/ articles/eyes-on-the-prize for more information on the full shortlist for the Sunday Mail and sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards.
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