With the2012 Olympics in London and of course the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow in 2014, the next few years are represent a huge opportunity for Britain, and Scotland, to put themselves on the sporting map.

The inspirational performances of Sir Chris Hoy and Andy Murray have given a whole generation of youngsters hope for their own sporting futures, and preparations are already under-way as Britain’s best athletes drill their bodies into shape for one of the greatest sporting eras these Isles has ever seen.

In The Winning Zone has profiled eight of Scotland’s hottest young sporting prospects who may hit the headlines in 2012 and 2014...

1.  Hannah Miley (swimming)

Hannah Miley, from Aberdeenshire, has already showcased her potential by making an Olympic final in Beijing last year, but she has since continued to improve even further. The 20-year-old has been dominating all around her in 2009, and is currently ranked as the world number one in her main discipline, the 400 metres Individual Medley.  Trained by her Dad, Patrick, many expect Hannah to be one of Team GB’s top medal prospects in London.

2 & 3. Kevin Stewart and Callum Skinner (track cycling)

It’s easy to tout every speedster on the track as the next Chris Hoy, but these two teens could be the real deal.  Both have come through the same talent conveyer belt as Hoy, learning their trade in Scotland before switching to British cycling’s excellence centre in Manchester.  Stewart, from Dundee, is the 2008 British junior keirin champion, while Edinburgh-born Skinner is the British 200m record holder.  Hoy himself has tipped them to go onto big things on the international circuit. Keep your eyes peeled.

4. Kirsty McWilliam (triathlon)

To be top class at one sport is quite an achievement, but to excel in three different endurance events like swimming, cycling and running takes a unique talent, and triathlete Kirsty McWilliam is one such individual who possesses that special something.  Last year Kirsty became the world junior champion at 18-years-old, and now the Stirling University athlete says she is ‘dedicating her life’ to becoming a champion, and a gold medal at London 2012 is her prime target.

5. Imogen Bankier (badminton)

Glasgow’s Imogen Bankier has set out her stall as one of the best doubles-badminton players in the business in recent years, and has already been starring on the international stage.  Alongside Scottish-born Englishman Robert Blair, 21-year-old Imogen has formed a potent mixed-partnership that took the pair into the world’s top 20.  She has recently relocated to the British high-performance badminton centre in Milton Keynes, alongside fellow Scot and doubles-partner Emma Mason, in preparation for the next Olympics in London.

6. Stephanie Twell (athletics)

She is Scotland’s newest recruit, but Stephanie is already on the fast-track to stardom in middle and long-distance running.   Last year she became World Junior Champion in the 1500m, and is representing Team GB at this month’s IAAF World Championships in Berlin.  Though she was born in England and raised in several countries, just this summer Miss Twell took the decision to represent Scotland in her international outings, the country of her mother’s heritage. 

7. Kenny Bain (hockey)

Kenny has long been tipped for the top, having been nominated for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award when he was just 15.  His career has suffered ups and downs since then – top scoring and winning player of the tournament at the EuroHockey Youth Nations in 2007 was definitely a high, while missing out on GB selection for the Youth Olympics was a low point – but he is maturing into a top class and dangerous goal scorer at club and international level.  Expect to see him leading the line for Scotland and Britain for many years to come.

8. Thom Evans (rugby and – maybe – athletics)

An interesting one, this.  Thom Evans is fast becoming Scottish rugby’s number one pin-up, with his boyband background (he toured with McFly) and searing pace.  He made a big splash on this year’s Six Nations, and would be a hot favourite to lead the charge for the Scotland Sevens team at Glasgow 2014.  However, having clocked a 100m time of 10.8 seconds as a schoolboy, his Mum being a South African sprint champion and former Olympic sprint champion Allan Wells listed among his fitness coaches, he hasn’t ruled out a 2012 or 2014 appearance on the athletics track either.  “It’s definitely an option,” he told the Independent newspaper earlier this year.

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