BRITAIN'S most successful Olympian, Sir Chris Hoy, was among five Scots inducted into the Scottish Sport Hall of Fame at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum today.
Hoy, who retired in 2013 having won six Olympic and 11 World cycling titles, was joined by former Scotland and British & Irish Lions rugby coach Sir Ian McGeechan, double Olympic sailing champion Shirley Robertson, multiple Paralympic swimming gold medallist Kenny Cairns and Commonwealth shooting champion Shirley McIntosh.
The first inductees since 2012, they bring to 98 the number of sportsmen and women in the Hall of Fame which was inaugurated by sportscotland in 2002.
Three of those honoured, including Hoy, were ineligible at the last intake. New rules removed the need for candidates to have been retired for five years. That has been reduced to two years, presenting the prospect of many more candidates, though some Scottish Olympic champions have yet to be included.
Led by sportscotland, the Hall of Fame celebrates Scotland’s iconic sports men and women dating back more than 200 years, and is designed to inspire future generations.
Three Herald journalists - Stuart Bathgate, Hugh MacDonald and Doug Gillon - are members of the independent panel of experts from across the sports spectrum which evaluates and selects candidates who can be nominated by the public.
The National Museum of Scotland displays a collection of the Hall's sporting memorabilia including an Old Tom Morris golf club, swimmer Ian Black’s poolside dressing gown made from tartan towels, a Billy Bremner international cap, and Eric Liddell's 1924 Olympic 400 metres gold medal.
Louise Martin, chair of the selection panel, said in congratulating the new inductees: "There are halls of fame for music, acting, all kinds of showbusiness. It seems today that you can find fame almost overnight. But, sporting fame is achieved over a lifetime of sweat and tears. And it is earned, not given."
Visit www.sshf.co.uk
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