THE hours are ticking down and you have just over 24 hours left to nominate your top Scottish sportsperson.

The deadline for entries for this year's Evening Times-backed Glasgow Sportsperson Of The Year awards is tomorrow.

And one athlete who could be in the running for the overall title – which is open to all sports personalities across Scotland – is gymnast Jonathon Mackie.

The 29-year-old, from East Kilbride, brought home a haul of six gold medals and a silver medal from the Special Olympics in Athens this year.

Jonathon and the Great Britain gymnastics squad beat China and Russia to be the big winners of the event for athletes with disabilities.

Jonathon has Microcephaly – a medical condition that affects the circumference of the head – but he has not let that stop him from enjoying an excellent athletic career.

Since 2004, he has competed successfully all over the world, including taking part in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year. He took part in the closing ceremony as part of a handover to the Glasgow delegation.

Jonathon lives with his parents, William and Anne, who are very proud of his achievements.

Mr Mackie said: "It's fantastic what he has achieved. He is a very clever laddie and has taken to the sport side of things exceptionally well."

Jonathon trains four days a week and also finds time to play golf and badminton, go swimming and volunteer as a gymnastics coach.

"Gymnastics is one of the sports I really liked and I wanted to do it," said Jonathon.

"Winning in Athens was the best thing ever and I felt more than happy."

He is 100% behind the Sportsperson Of The Year Awards. "It's really important for people to nominate," he said."

The other award categories are: Glasgow Disabled Athlete Of The Year; Service To Sport – Lifetime Achievement; Team Of The Year; Young Sportsperson Of The Year; Club Of The Year; Primary and Secondary Sports Schools Of The Year; Student Athlete Of The Year; Glasgow Coach Of The Year; Glasgow Volunteer Of The Year; Leader's Special Award.

There will also be a Lord Provost's Award, which will be selected from nominees in any category.

Nomination forms are available from www. glasgowlife.org.uk/sports or at any Glasgow Club facility.

The winners will be announced on February 23 at the City Chambers.

lalita.augustine@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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