Inspiring performances at the highest level have landed three of Scotland’s top sporting names a chance to add to their accolades, named as finalists for Para-Sport Athlete of the Year at the 2017 Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 21 September.

Last year’s winner Gordon Reid is once again shortlisted and is joined by global champions of track and pool, Sammi Kinghorn and Danielle Joyce. The three will go head to head for the prestigious award sponsored by Team Scotland’s Systems Integration, BPS and IT Outsourcing partner, CGI.

Rio 2016 and reigning Wimbledon champion, Gordon reached the Wheelchair Doubles final of all four Grand Slams in 2017, winning three times. He took the Australian Open title in January and finished runner up at the French Open before going on to defend his Wimbledon doubles title in July. Most recently he and Hewett took the US Open title, with Gordon just missing out to Hewett in the Singles semi-finals.

A phenomenal season saw Sammi break World and European records in the T53 sprint events, she claimed her first global title with gold in a world record time in the 200m at the World Para-Athletics Championships in London. She went on to take bronze in the 400m, before capping a fantastic championships with a second gold, this time in the 100m. She now turns her attention to Gold Cost 2018 and is set to make her debut over the marathon distance in a bid to be selected for both 1500m and Marathon at her second Commonwealth Games for Team Scotland.

Following an incredible display at the Scottish Championships in December 2016 where she set five World short-course records in three days, Danielle was the star of the pool at the Deaflympics as she claimed four of the British team’s nine medals in an outstanding week in the Turkish city of Samsun. She took bronze on the opening night of competition as part of the Mixed 100m Freestyle Relay before going on to add two gold and a bronze in her individual events.

Paul Bush, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “Scotland’s para-sport athletes have thrilled and inspired over the past 12 months and our three finalists represent the absolute pinnacle of achievement. I look forward to celebrating their many successes with them at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 21 September.

Sponsor of the Para-Sport Athlete of the Year Award for a second year, CGI is one of the world’s largest independent information technology and business process services firms, employing around 65,000 professionals across 40 countries. With around 300 people based in offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, CGI is ideally placed to serve Scotland’s key economic centres. They are proud to be the official Systems Integration, BPS and IT Outsourcing partner to Team Scotland.

Janine Bailey, Vice-President, UK Marketing & Communications at CGI said:

“As part of our ongoing involvement with Team Scotland, CGI are proud to once again support this award as a demonstration of our commitment to excellence and inclusiveness. Congratulations to all the finalists and I wish them the best of luck on the night.”

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.