Dame Katherine Grainger DBE, Colin Montgomerie OBE and Jim Anderson OBE have been announced as the newest inductees in the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.

All three Scottish athletes will be officially inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame at the Scottish Sports Awards 2024, hosted by sportscotland and Team Scotland, on Wednesday 4 December. The evening is dedicated to celebrating the success of individuals, schools, clubs, and teams across the whole of Scottish sport.

The Scottish Sports Hall of Fame was established by sportscotland in 2002 to recognise and honour the many great champions this country has produced. It has delivered on that ambition, enabling us to celebrate the achievements of Scotland’s finest athletes and role models and the impact they have on subsequent generations.

Inductees are decided by a panel of judges from across the sporting system who come together each year for the Scottish Sports Awards. There are currently 101 inductees after the most recent round of inductions, with Scottish Footballing legend, Julie Fleeting MBE and Scottish Shinty star Ronald Ross MBE joining the distinguished list last year.

The Hall of Fame stands as a tribute to the champions and the newest inductees are prime examples of Scottish Sporting champions.

Dame Katherine Grainger DBE is a distinguished former rower and prominent figure in British sports. She is the only British female athlete to win medals in five consecutive Olympic Games. Grainger’s Olympic journey began in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, where she won a silver medal in the women’s quadruple sculls. She continued to excel, earning silver medals in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, before finally clinching gold at the London 2012 Olympics. She capped her Olympic career with another silver in Rio 2016. In addition to her Olympic success, Grainger is a six-time World Champion, with a total of eight World Championship medals to her name.

Beyond her athletic and academic pursuits, Grainger has made significant contributions to sports governance. She was appointed Chair of UK Sport in 2017, where she advocates for high-performance sports in the UK. Katherine is also the Honorary President of the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association, and her journey exemplifies the spirit of perseverance and excellence. Grainger’s legacy is not only defined by her medals but also by her commitment to inspiring future generations and promoting access to sports for all.  

“As a proud Scot, it is an absolute honour to be inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame”, she said. “Sport has always played a huge role in my life. From giving me great enjoyment at a young age, to a long career and happy as an athlete on the world stage and now in my role as Chair of UK Sport, the impact it has had on me is momentous. I am incredibly thankful to be recognised in this way and to share the Hall of Fame with so many sporting heroes and iconic individuals that I deeply admire.”

Colin Montgomerie OBE is a legendary professional golfer renowned for his remarkable achievements on the European Tour and in the Ryder Cup.  With 31 victories on the European Tour, ‘Monty’ holds the record for the most wins by any British golfer and ranks fourth all-time in European Tour history. His dominance is highlighted by his unprecedented eight European Tour Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutive wins from 1993 to 1999. Montgomerie’s legacy is cemented by his contributions to the Ryder Cup, making his debut in 1991. He played in eight Ryder Cups, famously leading the European team to victory as captain in 2010 at Celtic Manor.  

The Scottish golfer is known as one of the greatest Ryder Cup players of all time and, to date he has been a member of the European team on eight occasions, never losing a singles match. His leadership and performances in the Ryder Cup have made him a beloved figure in the sport. Beyond his golfing achievements, Montgomerie is known for his charitable work and business ventures, including course design and his foundation supporting cancer care. His impact on the sport and his status as a role model for aspiring golfers make him a true icon in the world of golf. 

“It means a lot for me to be inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame”, he said. It’s truly a great honour and when you see the other 101 inductees, it is a fabulous list and something I am very proud to be a part of. When you think about all of the Scottish success that we’ve had, given that we are such a small country. It’s great that my name will be there forever, and my grandchildren can see it up in lights.”

Jim Anderson OBE, affectionately known as “Jim the Swim,” is a celebrated Scottish former Paralympic swimmer whose remarkable career spanned two decades, during which he consistently performed at the highest levels of competition, making him a true icon in the world of para swimming. Over his impressive career, he represented Great Britain at six Paralympic Games from 1992 to 2012, securing a remarkable six gold medals. Four of Jim’s golds were won at a successful 2004 Athens Games, where he excelled in the 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle, as well as the 50m backstroke. He also won two golds at the 1996 Atlanta Games. 

Anderson’s achievements extend beyond the Paralympics; he has set two world records and four European records. Throughout his career, he amassed a staggering 57 medals across various competitions, including 17 medals at the Paralympics between 1992 and 2012 and 18 at World Championships from 1994 to 2010.

On hearing he was to be inducted he said: “I’m honoured, delighted and privileged to have been nominated to be part of the Hall of Fame.”

Find out more and see all inductees on the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame website.

Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, Ian Reid, said, “We are fortunate to have such a rich sporting history and pedigree as a nation, and Jim, Colin and Katherine join an illustrious group of athletes in the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. They have inspired the nation for decades and paved the way for others to follow. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at the Scottish Sports Awards 2024.”