Freedom of Borough honour for Olympic champion Hannah Scott
Olympic champion Hannah Scott has been granted the freedom of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough, following her remarkable victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The decision, reached unanimously at a special council meeting on Tuesday, celebrates Coleraine star Scott’s status as a role model for young women and acknowledges her contribution to sport and the local community.
Scott, aged 26, clinched gold in the women’s quadruple sculls for Team GB at the Paris Games. This achievement makes 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 historic moment was described by Alliance alderman Yvonne Boyle as “a truly historic achievement, not only for her and her family, but for our entire community”.
Boyle, who proposed the motion alongside councillor Amy Mairs, highlighted Scott’s journey from learning to row at Bann Rowing Club to reaching the pinnacle of world sport.
“The honour is bestowed on Hannah in recognition of her dedication, resilience and excellence, as well as the inspiration she provides to young people across Causeway Coast and Glens,” Boyle said. “She is a champion in every sense of the word, and this is a fitting way for us to say how immensely proud we are of her.”
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.
Celebrations erupted in Coleraine as thousands lined the streets to welcome Scott home in August last year.
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.