Young Person of the Year: Finlay Brill – Monifieth Triathlon Club

Finlay Brill is your 2024 Triathlon Scotland Award winner for the Young Person of the Year Award. 

Finlay Brill is an impressive athlete and ambassador for triathlon in Scotland. Starting out a Monifieth Triathlon club in 2018 as one of its first youth members, Finlay rapidly demonstrated his ability in triathlon with impressive dedication to structured training. As he progressed, Finlay started attending the adult swimming sessions and was good enough to be placed in the faster swim lanes. Currently 17 years old, he has now completed the Youth Ambassador Coaching Qualification and the Foundation Coaching Course and is aiming to progress to the next coaching levels once he turns 18.

His contribution to the sport is multifaceted. He is an excellent athlete and frequent competitor in national events. Finlay maintains a good-humoured and relaxed approach to both training and coaching, making him fun to be around and readily putting people—children and adults alike—at ease, which is especially valuable when coaching.

Finlay currently coaches both adults and children in swimming, biking, and running. His approach is one of clear and calm instruction with some hmour, always focused on the people he is coaching rather than showing off his own abilities. The junior club members look up to Finlay, and his help with their bike skills is invaluable. He is a core member of the children’s coaching team and is usually present at the junior sessions. He now attends and coaches at adult sessions too, recently assisting at a specialised bike session for the club to introduce and help with cyclocross-type bike skills.

Finlay has maintained this high level of commitment while completing senior school and moving on to college. He serves on the committee for the club as youth representative (a position he suggested would be useful and created) and handles social media for the club. He embodies the inclusive and nurturing spirit of triathlon in Scotland.

CJ Young, M3’s youth coordinator, says: “As a young Tristar, Finlay came to M3’s youth squad with a strong swimming background and a keen interest in running and cycling. He quickly developed into a trailblazing young triathlete. As Finlay’s own performance and training continued to develop, he also took on a regular volunteering role with the youth squad, where he consistently modeled good practice for the junior members, and then graduated to become M3’s youngest ever coach earlier this year. He also brings his energy and time to M3 as a committee member—working to further the reach of M3’s programs and initiatives.”