ANDY Murray has had a golden year crowned by being named 2016 Scottish Sportsperson of the Year.
There were more than 50 Scottish Olympians and Paralympians from the recent games in Rio taking part in the glittering Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards ceremony in Edinburgh, a star-studded celebration of their outstanding achievements as well as the success of individuals, schools, clubs and teams across the whole of Scottish sport.
It is the third time that two-time Wimbledon and Olympic singles gold winner Murray scooped the award, first taking it jointly with Sir Chris Hoy in 2012 after London Olympic gold and claiming the title outright the following year after his first Wimbledon title.
He said: “It has been a fantastic season for me winning Wimbledon and retaining my Olympic title and I am delighted to be awarded the 2016 Scottish Sportsperson of the Year Award for the third time, particularly given all the incredible performances by other Scots this year.”
Heather Stanning’s five year winning streak in the coxless pairs, culminating in a second Olympic gold in Rio with Helen Glover, gave her the nod for Female Athlete of the Year ahead of fellow rower Katherine Grainger and cyclist Katie Archibald.
The awards ceremony came after the athletes received a heroes welcome in the Scottish capital as part of a day of celebration to mark the success of the Scots on Team GB and ParalympicsGB.
The stars met schoolchildren, clubs and volunteers from across Scotland at the Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance centre, in the morning, and posed for selfies with fans in Festival Square later.
Most of the Scottish Olympic and Paralympic medallists were there, including rower Heather Stanning, wheelchair tennis player Gordon Reid, cyclists Callum Skinner and Katie Archibald, and Edinburgh swimmers Scott Quin and Dan Wallace.
Cyclist Callum Skinner, 19, told the Edinburgh crowd how legend Sir Chris Hoy had inspired him to take to the track and win gold, and Jo Butterfield, who won gold in the club throw, told how five-and-a-half years ago she took up sport, now her passion, as rehabilitation after a spinal tumour left her paralysed below the waist.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "On behalf of the people of Scotland, I would like to offer my congratulations to all of the Scottish Olympians and Paralympians.
"They have done themselves and their country proud and will have inspired the next generation of athletes."
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