Olympic history made as Hannah Scott becomes first County Derry athlete to win gold

History was made as Hannah Scott became the first athlete from County Derry to win a gold medal at the Olympics. 

Coming into the final, expectations were mammoth for the medal, but Scott and her three teammates were able to row through at ease as they won Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s sixth gold in these Paris Olympics.

It was a dramatic finish as Scott and her teammates Georgina Brayshaw, Lauren Henry, and  Lola Andersonwon the race in a photo finish, trailing the whole way to the line but never wilting as they powered their way to victory by 0.15 seconds over the Netherlands.

The Coleraine native has dreamt about this moment since she first stepped into the boat, and with this victorious race in the Women's Quadruple Sculls, she will be immortalised in Northern Irish sporting history and at her local rowing club, Bann Rowing Club. 

Scott said: ““I always associate myself with Bann (Rowing Club). In some ways, I’ve never really left. It is definitely a thing for me to be from Bann.

“Going to the Olympics this summer is something I have dreamt of since I was young at Bann, and I feel very proud to come from there.”

The 25-year-old may not be the first Olympic medalist to come from the famous rowing club, along with 2012 silver medalists, brothers Richard and Peter Chambers and 2012 bronze medalist Alan Campbell, but Scott is the first gold medalist from the club. 

And as Scott crossed the finish line to make history, her friends, family and members of the public watched it in Coleraine town centre during a public screening hosted by Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council. 

Hundreds were in attendance to cheer on their local hero as she won gold at the women's quadruple scull final.

(Picture Credit:  Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council)

The Princeton University graduate became the third gold medalist from Northern Ireland in the 2024 Olympics, following the Olympic record-breaking performance by Daniel Wiffen in the men’s 800m freestyle and Jack McMillan’s performance as part of the squad in the men’s 4x200 freestyle for Team GB and NI.

The illustrious list of Olympic gold medalists is now six, following the addition of these three athletes to the illustrious list. 

They join Lady Mary Peters, Northern Ireland's first ever gold medalist with her pentathlon victory at the 1972 Munich Games; Jimmy Kirkwood, part of the Great Britain team that won gold in hockey at Seoul 1988; and Stephen Martin, MBE, who was also part of the 1988 Seoul hockey team.

With Scott becoming the first Olympic gold medalist from County Derry, there will be hopes that Daniel Coyle will join the list when he competes for Ireland in the showjumping later in the week.

However, it is important to mention Jason Smyth, the six-time Paralympic gold medalist from Eglinton in County Derry, who won his first gold in the Bejing 2008 100 m T13 and his final gold at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago before deciding to step away from the running track.

Quick to congratulate the maiden Olympic gold medalist from County Derry was East Derry MLA Claire Sugden. 

MLA Sugden has said she “could not be prouder” after Coleraine rower Hannah Scott won Olympic gold this morning (July 31) in the quadruple sculls for Team GB.

Ms Sugden said the 25-year-old had performed incredibly as hundreds of locals watched on from a big screen in Coleraine town centre, joining millions around the world witness the feat.

“This is just fantastic for Hannah – for her friends and family, her town and her country,” Ms Sugden said.

“She has shown that by putting all those hours of training over the years, and through her steadfast commitment to the sport she loves, it is possible to achieve your dreams.

“Starting at Bann Rowing Club in Coleraine she will inspire all those young, local rowers who will now see her achievement as a dream that could be within their grasp if they apply the same dedication and hard work as she has.

“She will return to Coleraine as a hero and everyone here is rightly proud beyond words of what she has done today.

“Well done Hannah – we look forward to welcoming you back to Coleraine as an Olympic champion.”