OSS ambassador Kathleen Dawson’s star continues to rise with recognition as ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ at the 2021 Scottish Women in Sport awards dinner.
Nominated alongside fellow Scottish sports stars Laura Muir and Katie Archibald, Kathleen was announced the winner at the annual dinner in Glasgow. The 24-year-old has had an outstanding year in 2021, picking up records and titles at both Europeans and Olympics, whilst also dealing with a significant back injury.
“It was a great honour to win the award,” she said, “and I was just so excited to be nominated alongside such fantastic Scottish sports stars. Katie and Laura have both had phenomenal years and I can’t quite believe that I’m being viewed in the same category as them, but it has been a special year. And there are other fantastic athletes who have had tremendous achievements this year not on the shortlist which I think shows the quality that exists in Scottish women’s sport right now. I hope that helps to inspire girls and women of all ages to believe in themselves and to get involved.”
Upon her return from glory, she jumped right into the OSS’ new ambassador group, and has gotten involved in discussions around community sport, and even visited the Street 45, women only group, at our research partner Street Soccer Scotlands new facility in Dundee. The players got the opportunity to talk to Kathleen about all of her recent successes, and all about her journey of ups and downs on her path to becoming Olympic champion.
Although an elite swimmer, Dawson feels strongly about Community Sport and is extremely disappointed in the decrease and reductions we’ve seen in recent years, and wants to be involved in making important changes the OSS is striving to make.
Thought Piece from Charlie Raeburn for Reform Scotland