'Home still sees me for who I am': Olympic champion Hannah Scott MBE receives Freedom of the Borough status
A sentimental Hannah Scott outlined how “home will always be home” after receiving the Freedom of the Borough at a special civic ceremony held by the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
The Freedom of the Borough, the highest civic honour bestowed by Council, was conferred on Saturday in recognition of Hannah’s outstanding achievements, including winning Olympic gold in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls as part of Team GB at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris – making her only the second woman from Northern Ireland to secure Olympic gold, following in the footsteps of Lady Mary Peters, who triumphed in Munich in 1972.
The 26-year-old was greeted into the Town Hall at Coleraine by members of Bann Rowing Club, who held up oars as she entered the building.
The ceremony was attended by a distinguished audience, including Northern Ireland’s only other Olympic gold medallist Lady Mary Peters, the Lord Lieutenant for County Londonderry, Mrs Alison Millar, and the High Sheriff, Mr Peter Jack MBE, alongside elected members, family, friends, and invited guests.
Speaking after receiving the accolade, Hannah told the News Letter: “It's really special.
"It's part of a community that is quite close-knit, and then for them to recognise me at the highest level is something that I don't take for granted and it means a lot to me.
"Home is always home and that doesn't change.
"As much as things have changed in my life with the success, I feel like home still sees me for who I was before that and that's why I appreciate it and don't forget it.
"I think Bann Rowing Club shaped me and it created me into the person I am as an athlete, and because of that I feel quite strongly about always going back to my roots and just representing that.”
Hannah, who said the attendance of Lady Mary Peters was an “honour”, has revealed her plans for the coming weeks and months.
"This year with the World Championships in Amsterdam, I want to try and upgrade the silver we won last year in Shanghai to gold if we can,” she continued.
"We've got a new exciting crew and on paper I'm excited about it.
"We've also got the World Cup Series this year in Seville and Switzerland, and then we've got the European Championships in Italy, so we've got a busy year.
"Then next year we've got Los Angeles qualifiers for the Olympics, and then the following year is those Olympics, which is the big one for me, and the one we're targeting obviously.”
It means Hannah now joins Professor Gerry McKenna (2001, legacy Coleraine award carried into current records), Alan Campbell (2017), Richard Chambers (2017), Peter Chambers (2017), Mervyn Whyte MBE (2018) and Joan Christie (2018) in gaining Freedom of the Borough status.
Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan said: “Hannah’s Olympic gold medal achievement has brought immense pride to her hometown and the wider Causeway Coast and Glens.
“As a role model, Hannah continues to inspire young people across our area, showing what can be achieved through hard work, resilience and commitment. This is the highest honour we can bestow, and it is thoroughly deserved.”
Congratulating Hannah, Lady Mary Peters commented: “I’m thrilled for Hannah and she is thoroughly deserving of this honour in her hometown and Borough. “As a Mary Peters Trust supported athlete, myself and the Trust have watched Hannah’s progress over the years, and her Paris Gold Medal achievement was simply wonderful. “I was honoured to be in Coleraine for her post Olympics homecoming, and everyone was just so proud. Hannah is also one of the Trust’s International Award winners and is a great ambassador for Northern Ireland. We wish her every success for the future.”
Scott’s dramatic victory in the women’s quadruple sculls saw Team GB surge ahead of the Dutch team in the final 100 metres, snatching first place by a mere 0.15 seconds in a nail-biting photo finish.
Further demonstrating her commitment to local sport, Scott donated her £20,000 Olympic Medallist Fund award to Bann Rowing Club in October. The club, located beneath a Chinese restaurant near the town centre, used the funds to purchase two single scull boats and a safety boat, ensuring future generations can follow in Scott’s footsteps.