She has attended award ceremonies across the land with her achievements rightfully recognised.
But winning local is always just as special for Perthshire curling star Eve Muirhead.
Muirhead was in attendance at Perth Art Gallery on Friday night to pick up a fourth Perth and Kinross Sports Personality of the Year trophy.
Raised in Blair Atholl, she had savoured success at every major event in the sport before retiring from competitive action in the summer.
It was of course fitting that, in February 2022, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of winning gold at the Winter Olympics. That week in Beijing will never be forgotten.
Despite having won the local sports title on numerous occasions before, it remains a “great honour” for the appreciative 32-year-old.
“I’ve been at many award ceremonies, some successful, some not,” Muirhead smiled.
“But to be crowned Perth and Kinross Sports Personality of the Year was a great honour. It is nice that you are recognised within your local area.
“Perth and Kinross have been very supportive over the years. I stayed in Blair Atholl growing up and throughout my junior career. Moving into my senior career and onto the Olympic Games, I was very lucky to use a lot of the facilities in the region.”
Muirhead highlighted the “wide variety” of sporting talent present at the Perth and Kinross Sports Awards.
And she added: “I was up against Laura Muir, such a big name and we all saw what she did getting her gold at the European Indoors.
“And of course Mili Smith as well who was in my team. The award was not just for me, Mili deserves it just as much as I do.
“She was part of that team out in Beijing and all five of us did a lot to get that gold medal.”
Phil Coleman, Community Sport and Partnership Manager from Live Active Leisure, who organised the event in partnership with Perth and Kinross Sports Council, said: “It was an absolute honour to announce Eve as the winner of Sports Personality of the Year 2022.
“She is an outstanding athlete, having led the Great Britain team to gold at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games.
“Although we miss Eve on the curling world stage now she has retired, we are proud she ended her career as a current Olympic, World and European Champion.
“Eve is a fantastic choice of overall winner in our celebration of local sporting talent.”
Full winners:
• Volunteer of the Year - Susan Whiteford.
• School Team of the Year - Strathallan S3 Netball Team.
• Chuck Hay Team of the Year - Meigle Cricket Club.
• Young Sports Personality of the Year - Connor Graham (golf).
• Veteran Sports Personality of the Year - Andrew Brown (fencing).
• Disability Sports Personality of the Year - Matthew Doig (athletics).
• Sport for Change Award - St Johnstone Community Trust.
• Club of the Year - Tayside Judo.
• Youth Leadership Award - Rebecca Harvey (netball/swimming).
• George Mortimer Service to Sport Award - Jim Hunter (Perth Strathtay Harriers).
• Sports Personality of the Year - Eve Muirhead (curling).
