BOWHILL Boxing Club star Niamh Mitchell has been crowned Young Athlete of the Year at the annual Scottish Sports Awards.
The youngster won the national accolade last night at a glamour prizegiving ceremony held in Edinburgh.
Niamh, 16, was up for the prize after she claimed an historic victory at the European Boxing Confederation (EUBC) European Championships in Italy.
The talented teenager delivered what tournament organisers described as a “sensation” by beating two-time European champion Laila Abdullatif – previously undefeated on the international stage – of Cyprus to become the women’s 52kg light bantamweight champion.
Niamh, who took up the sport three-and-a-half years ago, became the first female boxer to win gold for Scotland at a major competition and only the second Scot ever to win gold at the European Junior Boxing Championships.
The Rosyth teenager was boxing’s only winner at the awards ceremony, being hosted by Team Scotland and sportscotland, which was held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Laura Muir was named the Female Athlete of the Year; Jake Wightman was named the Male Athlete of the Year; and Eilish McColgan won the Scottish Sporting Moment of the Year following a public poll by Team Scotland/sportscotland.
