Sturgeon Hails Scotland's Olympic Heroes

22 August 2016, 07:53 | Updated: 22 August 2016, 08:24

Nicola Sturgeon has praised the ''heroic'' achievements by Scottish athletes making Rio 2016 the country's most successful overseas Olympics.

Scottish competitors helped boost the Team GB tally by a total of 13 medals - four gold, seven silver and two bronze.

Nicola Sturgeon said their performance would help inspire the next generation of athletes.

Tennis ace Andy Murray was the fourth Scot to win gold after cyclists Callum Skinner and Katie Archibald and rower Heather Stanning.

Rower Katherine Grainger's silver medal made her Britain's most decorated female Olympian.

Skinner also won silver, as did rowers Polly Swann and Karen Bennett, canoeist David Florence and rugby players Mark Bennett and Mark Robertson.

Swimmer Duncan Scott won two silver medals in relay races, the first coming with fellow Scots Stephen Milne and Dan Wallace. Robbie Renwick also took silver in swimming relay.

Sally Conway won bronze in judo while Eilidh Doyle led the women's 400m relay quartet to a bronze medal.

Scots won a total of 13 medals at London 2012 but the previous record at an overseas Games was seven at Sydney 2000.

Ms Sturgeon said: ''There is no higher honour than competing on a global stage and all our sportsmen and women have done Scotland proud as part of Team GB.

''This has been a fantastic games and the team have been brilliant from start to finish.

''People right across the country have been glued to the telly cheering the team on - with some very late nights as a result. There have been heroic efforts throughout the team and the results we've seen are testament to the hard work and dedication they, their families and their coaches have put in.

''Their performances will have inspired the next generation of young talent coming through the ranks and I'm sure the entire team will all be given a warm and rapturous Scottish welcome when they return home this week.

''Our athletes have done themselves and their country proud and they all deserve huge congratulations. I hope they the take time to enjoy the celebrations with their friends, family and the public in the days ahead.''

Sportscotland chief executive Stewart Harris said: ''The performances of the athletes on Team GB at the Rio Olympics have been absolutely phenomenal, and by winning 13 medals the Scots at the Olympics have had their most successful 'away' Games. Their efforts have captured the imagination of the nation, and no doubt inspired the next generation to emulate their achievements.''

The success of Scotland's Olympians is to be celebrated with a homecoming event on September 28 and will include an audience of schoolchildren from around the country, sports volunteers and members of the public, rather than a bus parade.