David Smith, Olympic Gold Medallist

The Mark Scott Foundation Leadership for Life Awards were being presented in Glasgoe tonight by myself and David Smith. He is an extraordinary individual whose driving ambition to become an Olympian over-rode a few minor obstacles along the way - like a condition where his foot bones were fused & I think I heard him right when he said they were also turned in back the way. Its a condition known as talipes equinovarus. Oh, he also had a spinal tumour which was only discovered and operated on in 2010. Oh and then he had a stroke!! He just missed qualifying in bobsleigh for the Winter Olympics but did qualify in a rowing category for last year's paralympics where he won a gold medal. He's 32.

Whew! All that's happened to me is having my tonsils out at three years old. I'd be lucky to be able to run around the block!

The Awards were also inspirational not least because the Foundation was set up by Mark's parents after their son was murdered in Glasgow because he was wearing a Celtic top. They've turned a personal tragedy into something profoundly positive.