Hannah Scott MBE

Hannah has cemented her place in history as the first female athlete from Northern Ireland to win an Olympic gold medal in 52 years. 

Hannah’s journey to Olympic glory was far from smooth. By the age of 25, she had sustained over ten rib injuries. After undergoing extensive medical testing, she was diagnosed with osteopenia, a condition linked to low bone density. Further evaluations revealed that her condition was a result of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Recognizing the importance of raising awareness, Hannah has become a vocal advocate against societal pressures surrounding female athletes’ body image.

Her rowing journey began at Bann Rowing Club in Coleraine. Growing up, she watched local heroes Peter and Richard Chambers and Alan Campbell bring back Olympic and World Championship medals to Bann, proving that world-class success was possible even without the resources of elite training centres. Inspired by their achievements, she took to the water at just 13 years old, determined to follow in their footsteps.

Beyond the medals and training, Bann played an important role in something much bigger – using sport to bridge cross-community relations in Northern Ireland. In a region with a complex history, rowing became a unifying force, bringing together young athletes from different backgrounds, teaching teamwork, respect, and shared ambition. It was in that environment that Hannah developed not only as an athlete but as a person, learning the power of sport to break down barriers and create opportunities, regardless of background or belief.

Pursuing both academic and athletic excellence, Hannah attended Princeton University in the United States. She became a crucial member of Princeton Women’s Crew, serving as captain and leading the team to two Ivy League Championships in the Varsity Eight. Her international pedigree was further strengthened with two silver medals at the U23 World Championships, establishing herself as one of the brightest talents in British rowing.

Hannah made history as the youngest member of the Great Britain rowing team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In 2023, Hannah played a leading role in Great Britain’s women’s quadruple sculls team, helping to secure gold at the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade. Their dominance continued into 2024, where they won the European Championships in Szeged.

Her crowning moment came at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she and her teammates delivered a stunning gold-medal performance, edging out the Dutch by just 0.15 seconds. This victory not only marked a historic achievement for Great Britain but also made Hannah the first female athlete from Northern Ireland to win an Olympic gold medal in over five decades.

For her contributions to rowing, Hannah was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2025 New Year Honours. Her journey—from a young girl in Coleraine with a dream to an Olympic champion—serves that belief can break barriers and make history.

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