Scotland is on the verge of an historic referendum and, on Thursday, Scots will go to the polls to decide whether or not to breakaway from Britain. Ahead of the vote, we've looked back through the archives and selected some of the finest moments in the history of Scottish sport.
Scotland's sporting glories —
Scotland is on the verge of an historic referendum and, on Thursday, Scots will go to the polls to decide whether or not to breakaway from Britain. Ahead of the vote, we've looked back through the archives and selected some of the finest moments in the history of Scottish sport.
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Despite finishing with the same time as Cuba's silver medalist Silvio Leonard (10.25 seconds), Scotland's Allan Wells won the men's 100 meters final at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Sixty-five countries boycotted the Games in protest against Russia's invasion of Afghanistan but, shortly after, Wells took on and beat sprinters from the United States -- then considered his greatest rivals. He is the last white man to have won the title.
Flying Scotsman —
Despite finishing with the same time as Cuba's silver medalist Silvio Leonard (10.25 seconds), Scotland's Allan Wells won the men's 100 meters final at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Sixty-five countries boycotted the Games in protest against Russia's invasion of Afghanistan but, shortly after, Wells took on and beat sprinters from the United States -- then considered his greatest rivals. He is the last white man to have won the title.
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Should Scotland vote for independence, a legion of British tennis fans will look back on Andy Murray's 2013 Wimbledon title with even greater fondness. The Scot secured Britain's first Wimbledon title in the men's singles for 77 years when beating Novak Djokovic -- but will "YES" vote mean Britain has not produced a male grand slam winner since Fred Perry in 1936?
Murray Mania —
Should Scotland vote for independence, a legion of British tennis fans will look back on Andy Murray's 2013 Wimbledon title with even greater fondness. The Scot secured Britain's first Wimbledon title in the men's singles for 77 years when beating Novak Djokovic -- but will "YES" vote mean Britain has not produced a male grand slam winner since Fred Perry in 1936?
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Celtic became the first British football club to win the European Cup when beating Inter Milan 2-1 in the Lisbon final. Sweetening the success was that all of Celtic's "Lisbon Lions" were born within 50 kilometers of the club's home city Glasgow. England's Manchester United won the title the following year but first blood had gone to the Scots.
Lion Hearts —
Celtic became the first British football club to win the European Cup when beating Inter Milan 2-1 in the Lisbon final. Sweetening the success was that all of Celtic's "Lisbon Lions" were born within 50 kilometers of the club's home city Glasgow. England's Manchester United won the title the following year but first blood had gone to the Scots.
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No British Olympian has won more gold medals than the six earned by Scottish cyclist Chris Hoy, pictured here just moments after winning his last Olympic final at the London 2012 Games. English rower Steve Redgrave held the previous record with five golds and was on hand to congratulate Hoy after he made British Olympic history.
Golds a-Hoy —
No British Olympian has won more gold medals than the six earned by Scottish cyclist Chris Hoy, pictured here just moments after winning his last Olympic final at the London 2012 Games. English rower Steve Redgrave held the previous record with five golds and was on hand to congratulate Hoy after he made British Olympic history.
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British football has known its fair share of successful Scottish managers -- Matt Busby, Jock Stein, Bill Shankly -- but none can match Alex Ferguson. Pictured here with his 13th and final Premier League title, Ferguson -- who says Scotland should stay in the Union -- amassed 38 trophies with Manchester United, including two European Cups. One of his most impressive triumphs came when guiding Scottish side Aberdeen to beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup.
King of Scotland —
British football has known its fair share of successful Scottish managers -- Matt Busby, Jock Stein, Bill Shankly -- but none can match Alex Ferguson. Pictured here with his 13th and final Premier League title, Ferguson -- who says Scotland should stay in the Union -- amassed 38 trophies with Manchester United, including two European Cups. One of his most impressive triumphs came when guiding Scottish side Aberdeen to beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup.
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Scotland's national football team has failed to reach the knockout stage from its eight World Cup appearances. The 1978 campaign was largely a disaster, confounding coach Ally MacLeod's prediction that his side would return with a "medal," but one moment of glory still brings a smile. After falling behind, Scotland rallied to beat the Dutch 3-2 in their final group game as Archie Gemmill weaved his way past three defenders before curling home one of the World Cup's great individual goals.
World Cup wizardry —
Scotland's national football team has failed to reach the knockout stage from its eight World Cup appearances. The 1978 campaign was largely a disaster, confounding coach Ally MacLeod's prediction that his side would return with a "medal," but one moment of glory still brings a smile. After falling behind, Scotland rallied to beat the Dutch 3-2 in their final group game as Archie Gemmill weaved his way past three defenders before curling home one of the World Cup's great individual goals.
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Scotland's greatest victory over traditional rival England came in 1967, as the reigning world champion suffered a first defeat in 20 games at home stadium Wembley. Ten years later, Scotland won again but the match is remembered for the way in which visiting fans invaded the pitch before pulling down the goalposts.
Scottish Invasion —
Scotland's greatest victory over traditional rival England came in 1967, as the reigning world champion suffered a first defeat in 20 games at home stadium Wembley. Ten years later, Scotland won again but the match is remembered for the way in which visiting fans invaded the pitch before pulling down the goalposts.
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Curling was invented in Scotland in medieval times so it's perhaps fitting that one of Britain's most celebrated Winter Olympic gold medals was provided by an all-Scottish team in 2002. As British fans stayed up late to watch a sport few had known much about just weeks previously, captain Rhona Martin catapulted curling into the British consciousness. It was the UK's first gold medal at the Winter Olympics since 1984.
Ice Maidens —
Curling was invented in Scotland in medieval times so it's perhaps fitting that one of Britain's most celebrated Winter Olympic gold medals was provided by an all-Scottish team in 2002. As British fans stayed up late to watch a sport few had known much about just weeks previously, captain Rhona Martin catapulted curling into the British consciousness. It was the UK's first gold medal at the Winter Olympics since 1984.
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Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, James Hunt -- the names of Britain's world champion Formula One drivers roll off the tongue. Yet none has known the success of Scot Jackie Stewart, who is one of only nine drivers in the history of the sport to win three titles or more, triumphing in 1969, '71 and '73. His compatriot Jim Clark won two world titles before his fatal crash at the age of 32.
Best of British —
Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, James Hunt -- the names of Britain's world champion Formula One drivers roll off the tongue. Yet none has known the success of Scot Jackie Stewart, who is one of only nine drivers in the history of the sport to win three titles or more, triumphing in 1969, '71 and '73. His compatriot Jim Clark won two world titles before his fatal crash at the age of 32.
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Many credit the game of golf as having been invented in Scotland in the 15th century. The sport's oldest major, the British Open, began in 1860, while "Old" Tom Morris -- pictured -- won it the following year and on three more occasions that decade. Morris played a pivotal role in developing golf at its spiritual home, St. Andrews -- the town where he was born.
Grandfather of Golf —
Many credit the game of golf as having been invented in Scotland in the 15th century. The sport's oldest major, the British Open, began in 1860, while "Old" Tom Morris -- pictured -- won it the following year and on three more occasions that decade. Morris played a pivotal role in developing golf at its spiritual home, St. Andrews -- the town where he was born.
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