After an incredible year for women’s sport in Scotland, three major championship gold medallists have been named as finalists for Female Athlete of the Year at the 2018 Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 13 September.

Finalist in both 2016 and 2017, cyclist Katie Archibald is in the running once again, alongside last year’s winner Laura Muir and diver Grace Reid, for the prestigious award sponsored by J Thomson Colour Printers.

Following World Championships gold and silver, Katie Archibald starred for Team Scotland in Gold Coast, winning Commonwealth Games gold in the Individual Pursuit and silver in the Points Race. In one of the most memorable nights of the Games her Pursuit gold came just 45 minutes before her brother, John, took silver in the men’s event. Despite breaking her collar bone in a fall in May, Katie also took Team Pursuit gold at the European Championships in Glasgow, her eleventh European title, as well as taking two silver medals.

“I’m delighted to be a finalist for this award,” said Katie. “In the year of the Commonwealth Games which is, of course, a big year for Scottish sport, I’m very proud.”

Recently crowned overall Diamond League champion in the 1500m for the second time, it’s been another stellar year for Laura Muir. After two medals at the World Indoor Championships, she broke the Scottish 1000m record while taking Birmingham Diamond League victory and took 1500m gold at the European Championships for her first ever outdoor major championship title. Even more impressive is that these achievements came in the year she also qualified as a veterinary surgeon, becoming Dr Laura Muir.

In Gold Coast Grace Reid took Scotland’s first diving gold medal for 60 years, and the first ever in the women’s events, when she took victory in the 1m Springboard. After five World Series medals and World Cup bronze, she snatched gold with her final dive in the 3m event at the European Championships, also taking silver in the 3m Mixed Synchro event, to cap a remarkable year.

“I am absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for this award,” said Grace. “The level of sporting excellence in Scotland is unbelievable and I am honoured to be one of the finalists.”

Paul Bush, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “All three finalists have thrilled and inspired over the past year with major championship medals and record-breaking performances. I congratulate them on their many successes and look forward to celebrating their achievements at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports awards on 13 September.”

Sponsor of the Female Athlete of the Year Award, J Thomson Colour Printers is the market-leading print solutions provider in Scotland with a modern, technologically advanced manufacturing facility in Glasgow supported by offices in Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen. The company employs 130 people and supports over 1000 customers from all market sectors producing a wide range of products on a diverse range of substrates, all at the highest quality via its litho and digital processes.

Winners across all award categories will be crowned at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in a star-studded celebration of Scottish sport on 13 September at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.