Pride of Scotland 2025: Meet the incredible heroes being honoured at tonight's star studded event

Daily Record

4 hours ago

Scotland's unsung heroes will receive their awards at a spectacular ceremony this evening
Forget the Baftas and the Brits, when it comes to awards ceremonies, tonight's Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards with P&O Cruises is the hottest ticket in town.
Our People's Oscars will honour the nation's unsung heroes - ordinary people quietly living extraordinary lives and making a difference in their communities.
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From humbling acts of kindness and selfless acts of bravery to raising millions for charity, our country is packed to the rafters with incredible folk who have done amazing things that deserve to be celebrated.
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Here are the 12 inspirational 2025 winners
HERO SHOPWORKERS: BOB BELL, CHERYL GOURLAY, AISHA JAVID & USMAN JAVID, Dunfermline, Fife
Shop workers tackled an armed robber who threatened them with a gun during a terrifying raid on a convenience store.
Last June a masked man burst into the Nisa Local store in Abbeyview, Dunfermline, brandishing a handgun and demanding all the cash in the till.
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He pointed the pistol in the face of post office worker Cheryl Gourlay, 43, who refused to give him the money prompting him to climb over the counter and force her out of the way.
Quick thinking shop worker Bob Bell, 34, leapt into action, jumping over the counter, grabbing the robber and hitting him on the head before restraining him.
Hearing the commotion shop owners Aisha Javid, 55, and her son Usman, 35, rushed to help Bob and together they managed to bring the gunman to the floor and disarm him of the gun and a knife he had concealed in his clothes.
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Cheryl said: 'It happened so fast that I didn't know what was going on. I didn't really have time to think about it. Maybe I should have just let him take the money because there wasn't much in there but my instincts kicked in and I just wanted to protect the shop.'
Aisha added: 'It all just happened so fast, my fight or flight reaction kicked in. I grabbed the gun because I knew I needed to get it away from him. I wasn't thinking anything other than how dare you come into my shop.
'You don't know what you'll do until you're in that position and I was more concerned about the staff than myself - Cheryl put her life on the line.
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'She should have just given him the money but she didn't. Then Bob came and we both tackled him and got him down on the floor and kept him there until the police came and arrested him.'
Robert Danskin was later jailed for seven years for attempted robbery with an imitation firearm.
Sentencing him at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Scott told him: "Those in the shop who faced you and stopped you from succeeding in this robbery had no way of knowing that the gun was not real. They acted despite how terrifying a situation you created."
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STEWART MILLER, Perth
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Tayside plumber risked his life during killer storm Isha to save a woman from drowning in the River Tay.
Stewart, 53, was walking his golden retriever Troy near the banks of the River Tay in Perth last January, when he heard cries for help coming from the water.
A woman was in the river, clinging to a tree in the middle of the fast-flowing current. Stewart ran to his van to fetch some rope, but soon realised the woman was too weak to pull herself to safety, he called 999 and was urged by police not to go into the water. But after seeing how much the woman was struggling, he ignored the advice and swam out to her.
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He pulled her out of the river, and safely back to a log near the shore. He said: 'It was a really stormy night and I was wanting to get back inside but Troy kept barking at the water.
I heard what I thought was a lamb but when I looked again it was a lady clinging to a branch .'I phoned the police and they told me not to get into the water but I had no choice.
If I hadn't gone in then she wouldn't be here. 'Troy and I both went into the water and swam out to her. She got a hold of me but we both went under. All I could think was 'What have I done?' But I finally managed to swim us back to the embankment and sat her down.'
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Stewart added: 'It was lucky I was there and I was able to do what I did. Was it stupid? Aye, a wee bit but I would do it again, I wasn't going to stand by when she was in danger. 'The woman was taken to hospital and made a full recovery.
Stephen Leckie, Lord-lieutenant of Perth & Kinross said: 'The Tay can be a very dangerous place, especially during a storm. There were so many variables that night; had Stewart not been there, had he not followed his gut, had he not acted so quickly it could have been a very different story.
"The level of bravery he displayed is to be expected from our emergency services but certainly not in everyday life. He risked his own life to save another and that is something to be very proud of.'
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EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARD
NORMAN MACLEOD, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
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Coastguard winch paramedic braved storms to drop solo onto a ship where two sailors had suffered horrifying injuries.
Stornoway Coastguard received an urgent call to assist the Spanish super trawler Lodario in November 2023. Two crew members on board had suffered life-threatening injuries after getting entangled in the ship's industrial-scale cable reels.
One had severe leg wounds and the other was still trapped. Arriving above the ship within an hour, the crew faced extreme weather conditions and rough seas.
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Winchman Norman 'Nam' MacLeod, along with his 30kg first response bag, was lowered from a 200 foot weighted line onto the deck. The scene that awaited him was horrific. One man had already lost a leg, and the other had suffered catastrophic injuries to both of his.
Norman, 55, said: 'I've been a paramedic for almost 30 years, and this was the most challenging scene I've ever dealt with."
Hampered by the conditions and language barrier, Norman administered emergency treatment on board.
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He said: 'The first guy's leg was ripped out. I applied haemostatic gauze which has a property on it that encourages blood clotting. The second casualty needed special tourniquets to both legs to stop the bleeding'.
Norman spent an hour on the ship tending to the men before two stretchers were sent down from the helicopter to lift them to safety, with Norman accompanying each transfer.
During the flight to Western Isles Hospital, Norman and his fellow crew member John Carrigan had to carry out emergency treatment to keep the two men alive.
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The second man subsequently lost both his legs but Norman said: 'They both survived which is the main thing.'
Winch operator John said: 'In situations like that, you can only hope you've got someone experienced in your crew. Although traumatic, what Nam did that day was some feat of bravery, and we're extremely proud to have him on our team.'
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TEENAGER OF COURAGE
GEORGIE HYSLOP, 16, from Ardrossan, Ayrshire
Inspirational cancer patient has channelled her energy into helping others and raised an incredible £51,000 despite her condition.
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In December 2023, when she was just 15-years-old Georgie went to the doctor with leg pain and they initially thought it was a stress fracture.
The fracture wasn't healing and, after an MRI and CT scan, she was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma - a rare cancer which occurs in the bones or in the soft tissue around them.
Determined not to let cancer get the better of her, Georgie immediately looked to help others by agreeing to donate her tissue to Cancer Research and vowing to fundraise.
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In the months after her diagnosis she raised more than £15,000 for the Schiehallion Ward at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Marion's House.
Throughout her treatment, which included 14 rounds of chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation, Georgie never stopped thinking of ways to help others and continued to organise family fundays, raffles and a ball.
During her time at Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Georgie would give out 'pocket hugs' to the other patients who were waiting on scans or treatment, and even dressed up as SpiderMan to cheer up a four-year-old receiving radiation treatment.
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In July 2024, Georgie was given the news she was in remission but earlier this year scans revealed her cancer had returned. Despite the cruel twist of fate, the smiley schoolgirl is continuing to raise money for others and to date has raised more than £51,000.
Georgie, who is hoping to start an acting course in September, said: 'The survival rates for Ewing Sarcoma are single digits but I've always said I will be one of those digits. I don't see why I can't be.
'At one point I was told I might lose my leg but I just said then I'll get a blade and I will go to the Olympics and if I do lose it in the future I can just cut one leg off my jeans.
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'My main aim is to help others going through the same thing. Hospital can be a scary place so I just wanted to find a way to make the experience a little better by either fundraising or raising a smile.'
She added: 'Yes my cancer has returned but you just have to keep going. I have lots of fundraising planned and lots to look forward to.'
Georgie's mum Lynn said: 'Throughout all of the ups and downs Georgie has remained so positive and hasn't stopped fundraising. To be told that she was no longer in remission was a big deal but Georgie being Georgie took control of the situation, gave herself a buzz cut and just carried on. She is a true inspiration and we are in awe of her courage.'
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YOUNG FUNDRAISER
THEO HARDIE, seven, from Falkirk
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Unstoppable seven year-old took on the challenge of running 100 miles in the hopes of raising funds for his little brother Jude's first wheelchair.
Theo's little brother Jude was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and has undergone a series of operations. Although healthy, he has limited use of his legs.
Wanting to help and support his brother, Theo, then aged five, decided to start his own challenge to raise money for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland.
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Starting in April 2023, he aimed to cycle a total of 100 miles to and from nursery every day to raise £1,000 for the charity. Smashing his target, Theo managed to raise a total of £2,043. In 2024, spurred on by his love for his brother, Theo decided to set himself an even bigger challenge - running 100 miles in 50 days or less.
Upset that two year-old Jude couldn't join in playing in the garden with him and other children, Theo told his mum that he wanted to raise funds to buy Jude a wheelchair so he could play alongside him.
This time Theo raised £1,060, more than double his target, and purchased a tiny wheelchair so Jude can zoom along beside him. Theo said: 'Jude couldn't move around and I wanted him to be able to play outside with me so I wanted to buy a wheelchair for him.
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'The running was tougher than the cycle. I just told myself 'Keep running, keep running. When we got to order the wheelchair that was great as now my brother can finally have a chance to have fun.'
Theo's mum Taylor said: 'It was all his idea, we never brought it up or pushed him to do anything, We are just so incredibly proud of Theo and touched so many people donated.'
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P&O CRUISES INSPIRATION AWARD
UPS & DOWNS THEATRE GROUP
Theatre group for children and young people with Down's syndrome and their siblings which has been making a difference for three decades
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This inspirational and fun-filled group is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. Around 70 young people with Down's syndrome and their siblings come together every Sunday to share their passion for music, theatre and dance.
The group was formed in 1995 by three music teachers who worked at an additional needs school and recognised that young people with Down's Syndrome had a particular musicality and love for theatre.
As well as performing, members forge friendships, learn about teamwork, build resilience and develop vital life skills. The group also offers camaraderie and support to families.
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Each March, the family-led group put on a week of sell-out concerts to show off their sensational talent and promote the positive side of Down's syndrome.
Ups and Downs President Lorna Leggatt, whose son Ellis, 26, has been a member of the group since he was five, said: "Young people with Down's syndrome can be funny, frail, musical, mischievous, wilful and witty - just like everyone else.
'They are individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams and, above all, they love to sing and dance. Ups and Downs allows them to show off their passion and they thrive on it.'
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Ellis added: 'I love performing with the Ups and Downs. We have so much fun. They are my family and I love them all.'
Over the years the company has amassed a host of celebrity fans including Paolo Nutini who came with his family to watch the show and Callum Beattie, who is a patron of the charity, and has been performing at their shows for the last four years.
Callum has also asked the group to open for him at the OVO Hydro in November.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
ASIYAH & JAWAD JAVED, from Stenhousemuir near Falkirk
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Local shopkeepers have donated more than £100,000 of food and medical assistance to people in their community since the pandemic.
Jawad, 39, and Asiyah, 38, who bought A&J Alloa Road Shop in Stenhousemuir, near Falkirk, eight years ago, started their community outreach during lockdown.
But even as the world has returned to normal, the pair have not stopped helping their community, and are still going strong five years later.
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Mum-of-three Asiyah said: "When the pandemic hit we had been saving for a family holiday to take our children to Florida. We couldn't go so we used the money we had saved to order quite a lot of hand gel, face masks and wipes which we gave to our NHS worker customers and the vulnerable in our community.'
Jawad said: "The local hospital was also struggling to get access to a lot of the same stuff, so we ordered over 10,000 bottles of hand gel and face masks and donated them all to them. "In total we wound up spending around £35,000 supporting the community around that time.'
Now the pandemic is over, Jawad and Asiyah focus on helping people in need and supporting four local care homes. They deliver food to elderly customers and hundreds of Easter eggs and boxes of chocolates to the care homes.
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Asiyah said: 'Once the pandemic was over we found ourselves looking for other ways to give back to the community and keep the momentum going.
'We now deliver food to our elderly customers and bring local care homes Easter eggs and boxes of chocolates at Christmas. 'Those in the care homes often can't be with family at Easter and Christmas, so we just like to cheer them up a bit and let them know that they are appreciated."
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
THE SPEIRS FAMILY, Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Built a network of holiday homes and flats in memory of their son Calum, supporting the families of more than 3000 children with cancer.
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When their son and Jenna's twin brother Calum died of an inoperable brain tumour in 2007 aged just 12, his parents and sister were determined to fulfil his dying wish - building a holiday home where other families of children diagnosed with cancer could spend time and create precious memories.
Calum's Cabin, complete with a stained glass window of Calum's favourite hobbies, was opened in 2009 and Calum's mum, Caroline, 58, dad Duncan, 63 and twin sister Jenna, 30, have gone on to set up six more holiday homes across Scotland.
In 2017, ten years after Calum died, they opened their first flat in Glasgow where families can stay while their child receives cancer treatment in hospital, and home is hundreds of miles away.
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They now have 12 flats, and through their charity, the Speirs family support 220 families every year, and in total have helped more than 3,000.
As well as a warm comfortable place to stay, the family pay for their utilities, provide food and other needs so they can concentrate on being there for their sick child.
Jenna, who says she lost half of herself when her twin passed away, works as a Therapeutic Radiographer so she can give her own support to families as they go through the most difficult time of their lives.
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She said: 'I'm now a radiographer because of Calum, and he pushes me to be a better version of myself in every way - I just ran the London Marathon for him and Calum's Cabin, and I'm not even a big runner.
'Calum was an inspiration to me and everyone who knew him, and he thought of others right until the end. I've lost count of the number of people who have asked their child where in the world they'd like to go after treatment finishes, their little one replies, 'Calum's Cabin'. They are offered the world and they want to come to Bute – how magical is that.'
Caroline added: 'We love what we do and we love knowing that Calum is with us every step of the way. Even when we have days that don't go to plan, we know it's just Calum playing one of his tricks on us and say 'Calum's having a right laugh today' - he was a wee joker.
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LAURA YOUNG, Troon, South Ayrshire
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'Vape Crusader' is the driving force behind the successful campaign to ban the sale of disposable vapes in Scotland.
Laura's remarkable crusade started when she spotted a discarded vape while walking her dog.
She said: 'I picked it up like any other piece of litter and went on with my day. But then I kept finding them everywhere and after a few weeks, I looked into what these devices were, and why I was seeing so many of them.'
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What she discovered appalled her. As well as being made of single-use plastic, the devices littering Scotland's streets also contain a cocktail of chemicals which are harmful to wildlife and lithium ion batteries, which are a fire risk. There are also health concerns about e-cigarettes, many with colourful branding and sweet flavours which appeal to teenagers.
Laura, 28, a Phd student at Dundee and Abertay Universities, was shocked that nobody seemed to be speaking out on the issue.
She said: 'There was no research, petitions, or organisations focussing on the problem. So, that left me with the decision of whether to be the one to start talking.'
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She used her social media platform, where she is known to 42.9 thousand followers as Less Waste Laura, to highlight the scale of the issue, and began lobbying local politicians, starting in Dundee.'
She used her social media platform, where she is known to 42.9 thousand followers as Less Waste Laura, to highlight the scale of the issue, and began lobbying local politicians, starting in her home city, Dundee.
After she addressed councillors there, Dundee City Council became the first in Scotland to back calls for a ban.
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Councils across Scotland followed suit, alongside calls from MSPs and a Daily Record campaign, piling pressure on the government to act, and now, on June 1, 2025, legislation to ban disposable vapes will come into effect.
Laura said: 'It makes me so proud to think that Scotland was the starting place for something like this. And since, people from Canada, the US and Ireland have all been in touch about doing the same.
'Looking back now, it was the easiest campaign ever, I had so many people behind me and everyone wanted to get rid of them. It took less than 500 days from starting the campaign to the government actually announcing the ban.
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'I'd like to think I could do it again, and I'm now looking towards what campaign I can take on next.'
Green MSP Gillian Mackay said: 'Plastic is one of the biggest factor impacting our environment… What Laura managed to achieve in such a short period of time is incredible, the determination she has shown throughout this campaign is a testament to her and should be looked at as an example in years to come.
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KING'S TRUST YOUNG ACHIEVER
ASHLEIGH LANCASTER, 28
Young woman who is overcoming the trauma of domestic abuse launches new career supporting others. Scottish entrepreneur transforms trauma into purpose
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Ashleigh Lancaster, 28, has never followed a conventional path and she's proud of it.
After experiencing the long-term impact of domestic abuse, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), and chronic health conditions, Ashleigh was forced to leave her job in community care.
Ashleigh found a lifeline through The King's Trust. The charity supported her both personally and professionally, helping her rebuild her self-confidence and shape a new path forward.
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In 2023, Ashleigh received a grant through The King's Trust's Enterprise Programme and went on to launch 'Lancaster Solutions' in 2024. Trained to deliver mental health first aid training, Ashleigh was inspired by her own experience of how frontline responders often lacked the compassion needed to handle trauma. Drawing on this, her business aimed to bridge that gap.
However, as the business grew, so did the demands on her health. When ongoing health challenges meant stepping back, Ashleigh made the difficult but courageous decision to pause her business and prioritise her wellbeing – a bold and honest move rooted in growth and self-awareness.
Now, Ashleigh is retraining as an assistance dog trainer. The new direction honours her physical and emotional needs while allowing her to continue supporting others with complex health conditions. The choice was inspired by the life-saving bond with her own assistance dog, Blu.
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Despite the weight of what she was carrying, Ashleigh refused to stay silent. She has become a fierce advocate for survivors of domestic abuse. Her lived experience fuels her work to improve how the justice system responds to coercive control, stalking, inadequate sentencing and breaches of Non-Harassment Orders, all of which directly impact the safety and wellbeing of those facing gender-based violence. She used her voice to challenge systems that often fail those most in need.
Her advocacy has reached the highest levels of government. Ashleigh's case is currently with the Justice Secretary who has issued an official acknowledgement and apology, showing that her voice is being heard.
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KING'S TRUST YOUNG ACHIEVER
SHANE LEE, 26, Dundee
Young man with autism has landed his dream job at Marks & Spencers and is a hit with customers and staff.
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Shane, 26, who lives with his gran and brother, has gone from believing he would never be ready for the world of work to finding his vocation working as front of house in a busy M&S in Dundee. Being on the autism spectrum, he was worried that his condition meant he would never have the confidence or team working skills needed to hold down a job.
Shane is also a carer for his older brother, who has Cerebral palsy, and worried that employment might limit how much he would be able to help with his sibling.
But he decided to make the leap out of his comfort zone and signed up with The King's Trust who were offering an employability programme with M&S.
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Despite reservations due to his lack of previous work experience, Shane convinced his caseworker that he was ready and was put onto a taster day where he blew King's Trust staff and M&S management away with his enthusiasm and positive attitude.
Shane was granted a place on the four-week course where his incredible customer service skills made him a favourite with shop regulars and at the end of the course he was offered a contract. He said: 'A few years ago, I never imagined I could get a job. I have autism, so I thought I wouldn't have the confidence or the skills needed to do a job justice
'I knew I could take on responsibility because I help out my Gran and brother at home - with the cooking or cleaning and things like that. Still it just seemed like without the right skills for the workplace, no one was interested in me. But I was very determined and now I have my dream job. He added: 'I'm just so proud of myself and how far I've come. I really appreciate everything The King's Trust and M&S have done for me. I know that my family are proud of me, and that means so much.'
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SCOTLAND'S CHAMPION
SIR CHRIS HOY
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One of Britain's all-time greatest sporting heroes, whose courage and dignity in the face of terminal cancer have inspired the nation.
From the moment he was inspired to ride a bike aged six, after seeing the flying BMX scene in ET, it was clear Chris Hoy had talent.
Within a year he was winning BMX races, eventually becoming one of the top teenage riders in Europe. Switching to track cycling, he was tipped for a glittering future by coaches, and he fulfilled their predictions with a silver medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
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It was the start of a medal-laden, record-breaking run of success, as he helped to transform the British cycling team from also-rans to a sporting powerhouse.
He won Olympic gold in Athens in 2004, and four years later in Beijing, became the first British man to win three golds at a single Olympic Games in more than a century.
Two more golds at London 2012 saw him become Britain's most decorated Olympian of all time. But there was much more than simple natural talent behind his extraordinary success.
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Staying at the top of one of the most gruelling, physically demanding sports for more than a decade required unbelievable reserves of determination, courage, grit and inner strength.
These have all been qualities that he has relied on once again, following his terminal cancer diagnosis. And alongside that strength there has been a truly inspirational degree of optimism and positivity, that has shone like a beacon of hope. "You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process," he said. "You remind yourself, aren't I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible."
Sir Chris Hoy may have achieved greatness on the cycle track, but he has demonstrated that greatness every day since. He is truly Scotland's Champion.
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