Teenage swimmer Okroj named Sportsperson of the Year
Kian Redman is young sportsperson, while Shetland women retain team of the year
TEENAGE swimmer Julian Okroj won the prestigious Sportsperson of the Year prize at the 2026 Shetland Sports Awards on Friday night.
The 15-year old capped off an incredible year in the pool by claiming the award, and becoming surely one of the youngest winners of the prize.
He collected nine medals – including four golds – at the Scottish National Age Group championships in April, and in July gave a superb showing at a major swimming event in Sheffield.
Okroj lifted two medals at the Aquatics GB Next Gen championships, reaching nine finals and making the top six in every single final.
Earlier this month was crowned open champion, north district champion and north district junior champion in the 200m backstroke at an Inverness meet.
Sprinter Kian Redman, who is actually older than Okroj, was the winner of the Young Sportsperson of the Year prize at the event at Clickimin last night (Friday).
He won the men’s under-20 200m gold at the age group championships in Grangemouth in August, and has also been representing Scotland’s under-20 team on the athletics track in recent months.
Shetland women’s footballers retained their Team of the Year title, after winning the Highlands and Islands League Cup for a second successive year.
The blues also created history by reaching the second round proper of the women’s Scottish Cup, beating Stewarton Annick, Aberdeen West End and Musselburgh Windsor on the way.
The under-18 junior netball team were the young team of the year, while Delting FC’s Adam Peterson was the winner of the volunteer of the year prize.
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Table tennis coach Chris Graham picked up the volunteer coach of the year award, and was back on the stage later to collect the lifetime endeavour award.
Awarded to someone who has dedicated their life to sport, Graham was celebrated for giving more than 40 years of service to table tennis in the isles.
Graham helps to coach in the growing Shetland table tennis scene still, and played a key role when Shetland won bronze in the team event at the 2005 Island Games.
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