Queen’s Honours list medals for Sammi and Jim

Thursday 2nd June 2022

Sammi Kinghorn (photo via Paralympics GB and Jim Hunter of Perth Strathtay Harriers (photo via Twitter)

BBC Sport report on Honours list recipients

Paralympian Sammi Kinghorn and Perth Strathtay Harriers stalwart Jim Hunter are winners in the Queen’s Jubilee Honours list.

Wheelchair racer Sammi has been awarded the MBE while Jim, who has been a huge figure in athletics in Perth for many years, will receive the BEM.

It’s great recognition for our sport via the Honours system and simply adds to a lengthy list from the athletics community in Scotland in recent years.

Sammi’s award is for ‘services to Disability Sport’ and after two medals at the Paralympics in Japan last summer the Bordered insists she is ‘just getting started’.

In December 2010 Sammi was involved in a life changing accident on the family farm. She spent five months in hospital with an injury that left her paralysed from the waist down.

While in the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southern General Hospital her physiotherapist took her to Stoke Mandeville Stadium to take part in the WheelPower Inter Spinal Games, where she was able to try out a variety of wheelchair sports.

Huge congratulations Sammi, very much deserved. Now for the Commonwealth Games.https://t.co/XW79CONMBH

— Border Telegraph (@bordertelegraph) June 1, 2022

‘Finding out I am getting an MBE is absolutely incredible,’ Sammi told the Border Telegraph.

‘I always think of myself as that little girl from the Scottish Borders and I think that when I was a child I would never have thought that someone from a little farm in the Scottish Borders could achieve half the things that I have achieved, especially an MBE.

‘So I really I hope that this does prove that if you have a dream and you push for it and strive for it and don’t give up until you get it, then you can achieve it.

‘I am definitely not done with my dreams yet, I’m just getting going!’

Perth Strathtay Harriers praised for inclusive approach

Jim is President and Inclusion Coach at Perth Strathtay and has been steeped in our sport for many years.

His citation for the BEM medal states it has been awarded for ‘services to Inclusion in Sport’ and that really reflects on the club’s inclusive approach and a very strong Para athletics section.

Massive congratulations to @PerthHarriers Coach Jim Hunter who has just been awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) in the Queens Jubilee Honours list for services to Inclusion in Sport????

Well done Jim ? Very well deserved – during volunteers week too ?? pic.twitter.com/hY3NQurQ0i

— Perth & Kinross Disability Sport (@PerthPKDS) June 2, 2022