Sholto Carnegie reveals Scottish classics that fuelled Olympic rowing gold for Team GB as he pays tribute to grandfather

Tearful Sholto Carnegie helped power GB’s rowers to Olympic gold on a wave of emotion stirred by the sound of the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond.

The proud Scot became the third Scot to top a podium in Paris and wept tears of joy as the Men’s 8s held off the Netherlands to cross the line first in Vaires-sur-Marne.

It was reward for a lifetime of sacrifice for London-born Carnegie who revealed mum Miranda had sent him a playlist of Scottish classics to calm the nerves on the morning of the final.

The 29-year-old has always identified as Scottish due to his late grandfather Ian from Edinburgh and dad Rory. And he said the spirit of the underdog rose to the fore to help him recover from the heartbreak of missing out on a bronze medal by a second at Tokyo 2020.

Carnegie wept uncontrollable tears of joy as he said: “My grandad and my dad have always instilled that Scottishness in me. It’s something that’s really part of my identity.

“I lived in England but I have always felt that proud underdog mentality. It’s something that has really stayed with me.

“My mum actually gave me some Scottish music to listen to before the race to calm me down and focus this morning. It was ‘Will Ye Go Lassie Go’ and ’The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond’.

“We played that at my grandad’s funeral. It allowed me to channel my emotions and reminded me of everyone who sacrificed so much for me.

“Grandad would have been so proud. He was a tough Scotsman. He just always instilled hard work in me. He was the head of the family.”

Carnegie and his team mates Rory Gibbs, Morgan Bolding, Jacob Dawson, Charles Elwes, Tom Rigby, James Ruskin, Tom Ford and coxswain Harry Brightmore crossed the line in 5.22.88 ahead of the Dutch and USA who took bronze.

Ford’s sister