Glasgow 2014 gold medallist Euan Burton says that being awarded an MBE for his services to judo in the New Year’s Honours marked the perfect end to his competitive career.

“I am delighted to receive the MBE in the new year honours. Thank you all for your congratulation messages. Enjoy Hogmanay and have a brilliant 2015,” the 35-year old wrote on Twitter.

“It’s a brilliant way to end a good career,” he told the BBC when he received his award in the New Year Honours list.

It’s fantastic, a great way to top off a brilliant year for me.”
Burton retired in August after winning one of 11 medals for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, and now works full time to coach the next generation of athletes with Judo Scotland. The MBE follows another achievement in being accepted onto the Sports Coach UK’s Elite Coaching Programme (ECAP).

“I’ve had a long career and I’ve done things in my career that I would never have expected to have done as a kid who just loved judo. To have won the medals I’ve won, and to have been to the places I’ve been, and to be given the chances I’ve been given to meet some fantastic people, it’s been amazing,” he added.

“I hope that will continue into my coaching role and I can help in some little way to open the doors to those kind of experiences for Scottish kids in the future.”

In receiving an MBE, Burton follows in the footsteps of lead women’s coach Kate Howey, who was awarded the same honour back in 1997. Kate also tweeted: “Congratulations Euan on your well deserved MBE.”

Words by Donna Richardson. Image Mike Varey.