TSYT Supported Athletes
Over £170,000 has been distributed to young athletes through the TSYT’s Awards, providing additional financial support to athletes across a wide range of sports, in addition to experiences provided to an even wider cohort.
The PHM Athlete Award has benefitted 69 athletes across 21 sports since its establishment in 2012, providing over £150,000 worth of funding.
In response to the difficulties faced training and competing during the COVID-19 pandemic, TSYT provided a further 38 athletes across 17 sports with funding in the form of 2021’s Return To Sport Award, totalling £20,000.
Over 180 aspiring athletes and sporting staff have participated in the Achieve Programme, which has offered a Games-time education experience at the Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Meet the young athletes currently supported by the PHM Athlete Award:
Isa Akram
Boxing
Harrison Bell
Cycling – BMX
My name is Harrison Bell. I am a 16-year-old BMX racer from Drumchapel in Glasgow. I compete regionally, nationally, and internationally since I was 6 years old. I am currently national number 5 in Junior Men (which I ‘race up’ in as I’m too young really!).
This year I went out in the quarter finals at the UCI BMX World Championships due to a big mistake that cost me the race. Although I have made it as far as the semi-final in previous world champs.
I currently train 5-6 days a week, which includes gym, track, and sprints. I have been in the top 8 nationally since I started in 2013 and I have also been Scottish champion every year I’ve been fit to compete. I have won three BMX national rounds and my best series finish is national number 2.
The support given by the Team Scotland Youth Trust has been a great help toward the large financial commitment any sport at this level demands and is hugely appreciated.
Struan Bennet
Triathlon
My name is Struan Bennet and my main sport is triathlon which I have competed in for since 2011. Over the years I have slowly worked my way up to bigger and bigger events. I train at the National Performance Centre based at the University of Stirling where I am going into the second year of my degree. I have been selected for Great Britain at both Youth and Junior level and I am now aiming at U23 level. My strength lies in my swim having developed it from a young age, but with focus and determination I am improving all three disciplines of triathlon every day.
Drew Burns
Weightlifting
I first started weightlifting when I was 11 and it was something really different to do a sport that wasn’t football, rugby or boxing! I started not knowing what weightlifting really was and really just thought I’d end up with “big muscles”! But it wasn’t until I learned the technique and skill required for it, I really fell in love with it and haven’t stopped training since! I began lifting at local development competitions, to gain confidence and experience. To lifting at European and World Championships and having even more passion for the sport each time.
Through my lifting journey, there has been high points and low points in my performance and I am extremely grateful for my family and the team that I have around me to work together and get back to performing at my best! My coach John McEwan has really helped me move to a different level of my training, a transition that was required to stay competitive with lifters from around the world! I look forward to training and competing at a high level for many years to come, Including the 2026/2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2028/2032 Olympic Games.
Jaimie Cook
Fencing
Jaimie is the current Senior British Champion and Junior Commonwealth Champion. He made his debut for Scotland and Great Britain at the age of 13, representing Scotland in the Cadet and Junior Commonwealth Championships in 2018 and at Cadet, Junior and Senior level in the 2022 Commonwealth Championships.
He is ranked 6th in the world Junior (U20) rankings and is part of the Senior GB Team, having represented GB at the multi-sport European Games and European and World Fencing Championships in 2023.
Sunny Doig
Judo
Sunny has medalled at both the Scottish & British Championships in the minor, pre-cadet, cadet & junior age divisions as she has progressed through the sport. Recently Sunny represented Great Britain at the European Cadet Championships and medalled on the international cadet tour. On transitioning to the junior tour Sunny has already established herself in the junior international ranks with a 5th place at the Junior European Cup in Birmingham in 2023. Alongside her sporting endeavours Sunny is studying Sports Science at Heriot Watt University.
Adam Donnachie
Athletics
After transitioning over from swimming, where I hold multiple Scottish records, in 2021, I am now a F57 Seated Javelin and Shot Put athlete within Para Athletics and in that time becoming 2nd all-time in the UK for javelin. I train at the University of Stirling with the athletics club, under coach Janelle McGurk. At the university I’m currently in my final year of my Sport Studies degree whilst being part of the International Sports Scholarship programme. My plans for the future are to represent Scotland or Great Britain at a major championship and a career in sports development.
Lucy Evans
Shooting
My name is Lucy Evans and I am a pistol shooter. I am originally from the north of Scotland, however I am now based at the University of Edinburgh, where I study Sport Science, and I am fortunate to have the support at the University in order to combine my studies with being a high level athlete. I got into shooting when I was eight through Tetrathlon, however around 2018 I decided to narrow my focus primarily to shooting. Since then I have achieved two British Championship titles, currently hold multiple national records and have had the privilege of representing my country on numerous occasions.
Giulia Gordon
Kayaking
My name is Giulia Gordon and I am a 15 year old Sprint Kayaker with the Scottish Performance Squad and Glasgow Kayak Club, where I have been competing since the age of nine. I was accepted on the Scotland squad in September 2022 and I love it. I attend Glasgow Gaelic School and am a fluent Gaelic speaker and am a multiple medal winner at various regional and National Gaelic Mod singing competitions. Although I am taking my National 5 exams I have been fast-tracked to my music Higher this year. My favourite subject is Geography, which I am sure is because of being lucky enough to spend so much time out on the water and in nature.
Stefan Krawiec
Swimming
Crystelle Lake
Gymnastics
I am a 19-year-old, elite artistic gymnast training at the City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club. I am a three-time Scottish Champion, part of the national performance squad and have represented my country five times. I was nominated for the 2022 Commonwealth Games but had to withdraw due to injury. I am now looking towards the 2026 Commonwealth Games. I am also a level 2 gymnastics coach and teach gymnastics artistry/choreography. I am currently working towards my level 3 coaching qualification. I’m in my second year of studying Sports Coaching and Development at The University of Stirling.
Laura McKenzie
Rowing
I am a 22-year-old Scottish Rower from Loch Lomond and a World Silver Medallist in Beach Sprints. I have been rowing since I was about 15 and have succeeded through the years as a Scottish and eventually British athlete with the help of Scottish Rowing, and many other coaches and friends along the way. Currently I am in 4th year student studying Mechatronics at the University of Glasgow as well as training and competing in the new and dynamic sport of Beach Sprints.
Jazmine Moore
Netball
I am 19 years old, currently a second year medical student at the University of Glasgow. I started playing netball when I was 10 years old. At present I am in the Scotland U21 squad and recently competed at the U21 Europe Netball Championships. I aspire compete at Netball World Youth Cup in 2025 and, in the future, be selected for Scotland A and the Scottish Thistles. Aside from netball, I enjoy braiding hair, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
Rachel Morrison
Beach Volleyball
I was born in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire and after around 7 years up North myself and my family moved to Ayr. This is where my volleyball journey began. I started playing indoor volleyball at my school, Belmont Academy. I then moved to Edinburgh and studied Applied Sports Science at The University of Edinburgh, where I began to play beach volleyball at Portobello beach. I have competed internationally for Scotland at beach volleyball for around 7 years now and won my first international gold medal on the sand this year. I was lucky enough to be part of the Team Scotland Achieve programme in 2022 and am very excited about the prospect of attending future Games.
Brooke Neely
Boxing
Alasdair Prott
Squash
I started playing squash at the age of 4 in my hometown of Inverness. I won 9 Junior national titles in my age group and reached European no.1 at U15 level. After finishing school I moved to Edinburgh and attended Heriot-Watt University studying Biological Sciences (Human Health). This allowed me to train close to full-time while studying and also turn professional. I graduated in May this year and I’m currently a full-time squash player ranked 108 in the world.
Alicja Pyrz
Kayaking
Alicja Pyrz is a 16 year old sprint kayaker. She started her adventure in kayaking when she was 9 with Glasgow Kayak Club in which she is still a present member. Through the years Alicja has successfully improved her performance, achieving very good results. Alicja has qualified to the Scottish Performance Squad 3rd year in a row. The biggest success for her was getting qualified to the Olympic Hopes in 2022 in Bratislava. Alicja is a very hard working and concentrated person who is dedicated to achieve her goals. Therefore she will continue to paddle in order to get into international competition and to be on the podium.
Maddie Rosher
Weightlifting