Three of Scotland’s brightest sporting prospects have been named as finalists for the Sir Peter Heatly Trophy and the title of Young Athlete of the Year at the 2017 Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 21 September.

Swimmer Scott McLay, rising star of Canoe Sprint Ieuan James and last year’s winner of this category, Para-Athletics sprinter Maria Lyle are in the running to take the prestigious award sponsored by City Legacy Homes.

The future looks good for Scottish sport with a huge number of outstanding nominations received by our judges who had the difficult task of narrowing it down to a shortlist of just three. Each of our finalists has stepped up this year to perform in style on the international stage, following in the footsteps of some of Scotland’s current stars including two recent winners, swimmer Duncan Scott, a double World Championship medallist this year and Olympic Champion cyclist Katie Archibald.

Scott McLay returned from the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games as Scotland’s most successful Youth Games athlete in history, following an incredible few days in the pool. With three gold, one silver and one bronze he eclipsed the record set in 2011 by fellow swimmer Craig Benson. Scott also won bronze at the 2017 European Junior Championships as part of the Mixed Medley Relay team.

Maria is already a multiple World, European and Paralympic medallist at senior level, despite being just 17, and has no intentions of slowing down. Despite carrying an injury into the Para-Athletics World Championships in London, she raced to bronze in both the 100m and 200m in a display of sheer determination. She now has her sights set on next year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Ieuan has had a rapid progression to the top of his sport in sprint canoeing after first competing internationally in 2016. In June he made a massive breakthrough, winning gold in the K1 200m event at the European Junior Championships in Belgrade. He then then went on to claim Britain’s first World Junior canoe sprint title for 22 years with gold in the K1 200m event at the World Junior Championships in Pitesti, Bulgaria.

Paul Bush, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “The breadth and depth of nominations received for this award, and the wide range of sports represented, shows that the future of Scottish sport is in good hands. We have an incredibly strong line up in our three finalists. I congratulate them on their tremendous achievements over the past year and look forward to following their future successes.

Sponsor of the Young Athlete of the Year Award is City Legacy Homes – a consortium of four Glasgow companies, CCG, Cruden, Mactaggart & Mickel and WH Malcolm, who developed the Athletes’ Village for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Delighted to see the number of young talents emerging in the wake of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, John Gallacher, Director of City Legacy Homes said:

“The Athletes’ Village has provided a lasting legacy for the East End of Glasgow and it’s been a privilege to play our part in one of the greatest projects that Scotland has ever delivered.  We are thrilled to sponsor the Young Athlete of the Year Award and we congratulate all the finalists on their amazing accomplishments.”

Winners across all award categories will be crowned at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in a star-studded celebration of Scottish sport on 21 September at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.