Davies shortlisted for BBC sports gong
Shetland swimming star and record breaker Erraid Davies has been shortlisted for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.
At 13, para-swimmer Davies became the youngest Scot ever to win a Commonwealth medal when she won a bronze in the SB9 100m breaststroke.
Previous winners of the BBC award include diver Tom Daley, tennis star Andy Murray and footballer Wayne Rooney.
The Delting Dolphins swimmer from Skeld said: “It really is quite amazing to know that you’re in the top 10 young [sports] people.”
“It has been a really good year, I didn’t think it would be like this at the beginning of the year. Hopefully next year can be good as well.”
Proud dad David added: “She has had a lot of media attention over the last four months. She has got awards from the Shetland Sports Awards, Scottish swimming and from Scottish Women in Sport.
“To have this national interest is really special. Even if she doesn’t make the final three, just to get to the top 10 of young people in sport in the United Kingdom is an incredible achievement.”
Others shortlisted for the award include British diver Alicia Blagg and golfer Bradley Neil.
The BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award is awarded to the outstanding young sportsperson of the year, who is aged 17 or under on 1 January 2014, selected from nominations made to the BBC and by sports governing bodies via the Youth Sport Trust.
The shortlist was drawn by a panel, led by BBC Sport’s John Inverdale. The panel decide the top 10 contenders and the top three from the list of nominations, choosing a winner by secret ballot.
The top three will be announced live on <i>Blue Peter</i> on Thursday 11th December on CBBC, and the winner will be announced live on stage at <i>BBC Sports Personality of the Year</i>, taking place this year at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow on Sunday 14th December, and broadcast live on the BBC.
Ron Young, Whitwell, Derbyshire
Congratulations to Erraid. I hope that she comes out top in the awards!
It always fascinates me with people that are classified as (so called) disabled, how they manage to make other parts of their bodies work just that bit harder so that they can excel in various fields. They all deserve a gold star as far as I’m concerned!