Paralympics: Willie Rennie raises Ben Sandilands' success at Holyrood

Willie Rennie, who represented the former Dunfermline and West Fife constituency at Westminster between 2006 and 2010, tabled a motion at Holyrood highlighting the Fife AC star's "exceptional achievement" in Paris.

T20 1500 metre runner Ben, who is coached by Steve Doig, competed in his maiden Paralympic Games for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and stormed to gold medal glory in a world record time.

The 21-year-old, who is club-mates with Owen Miller, the Dunfermline athlete who memorably became Paralympic champion on his Games debut, in the same event, at the delayed Tokyo event of 2021, crossed the line in three minutes and 45.40 seconds.

READ MORE: Ben Sandilands reflects on "amazing feeling" setting world record

That time shaved 0.1 seconds off the previous global best as Ben added the Paralympic title to his 2023 Para Athletics World Championships gold, which was also won in the French capital.

Ben Sandilands set a new world record on his way to gold. (Image: imagecomms.)

Mr Rennie, the former leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats who was the Mid Scotland and Fife MSP from 2011 to 2016, from which he has represented North East Fife, is a keen runner himself, and a member of Dunfermline's PH Racing Club.

"Ben deserves every congratulations for his outstanding success in Paris," he said.

"It is great to see that his hard work and dedication have paid off, not just with a gold medal but a new world record.

"The support of his family has clearly been vital and I’m glad they they could be there to watch the race. I wish Ben all the best in his future endeavours both on and off the running track."

Ben, who is from Kirkcaldy, is part of a training group led by his coach that is based at Pitreavie Athletics Centre.

The motion submitted to the Scottish Parliament that was submitted by Mr Rennie read: "That the Parliament congratulates Ben Sandilands on winning a gold medal in the 1500m T20 final at the Paralympics in Paris on 6th September 2024; understands that Ben also set a new world record in the category, completing the race in three minutes and 45.40 seconds; recognises his exceptional achievement which was witnessed in the Stade de France by Ben’s parents, siblings and grandparents; notes that Ben has been a committed athlete since his talent was spotted at the age of nine; further notes that his victory follows a gold medal in the same event at the Para Athletic World Championships last year; commends Ben’s commitment to running which has seen him training six days per week in addition to studying horticulture at SRUC Elmwood; celebrates the achievements of all of Scotland’s Paralympic Athletes in Paris and wishes them well in their future competition."

It was supported by several MSPs, including Annabelle Ewing, who represents the Cowdenbeath constituency, Kirkcaldy's David Torrance, and Murdo Fraser, of the Mid Scotland and Fife region.