VOTE: Glasgow's Katie Archibald and Duncan Scott finalists for 2018 National Lottery Athlete of the Year

But finalists need your votes. Full details at lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards.

Katie, aged 24, from Milngavie, is a multiple World and European cycling champion, in both individual and team events.

In 2018 she brought home three Commonwealth Games medals. She has inspired many people to race, as well as simply ride their bikes for pleasure.

Duncan, at just 20, is also a multi medal winning athlete. Hailing from Glasgow, he brought home six swimming medals from this year's Commonwealth Games making him the most successful Scot ever at a single games.

They are up against tough competition in a search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded athlete.

The other finalists are Alex Danson, Hockey, England and Great Britain; Emma Wiggs, Para Canoe, Great Britain; Lizzy Yarnold, Skeleton, Great Britain; Mahama Cho, Taekwondo, Great Britain and Menna Fitzpatrick plus her guide Jennifer Kehoe, Para Skiing, Great Britain.

VOTE NOW: Voting is simple - you can do it online, by phone or Twitter - visit lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards.

Online you will find full details about each athlete. Pick your favourite and click on the voting button on their page, call their phone line vote number or tweet their unique hashtag on Twitter.

But hurry. Voting closes at midnight on Friday, September 14.

The Athlete of the Year category is a brand new addition to The National Lottery Awards which also celebrate Lottery-funded projects. Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised each week for good causes in the UK.

The new sporting award is a golden opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the UK’s world class National Lottery funded athletes, whilst demonstrating the impact National Lottery players have on elite sport.

Since National Lottery funding for Olympic and Paralympic sport started, in 1997, British athletes have won an incredible 860 medals.

The seven shortlisted athletes beat off stiff competition from a long list of 120 other worthy contenders to reach the public voting stage.

They were selected by a judging panel for their sporting achievements, passion for their sport and ability to inspire others.Now the public vote will decide which athlete is crowned champion and receive a £5,000 cash prize to award to a National Lottery funded project of their choice. The victorious athlete will also receive an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and attend a star-studded glitzy awards ceremony to be broadcast on BBC One on September 26, 2018.

UK Sport Chair and Olympic Rowing Gold medallist, Dame Katherine Grainger, said: “National Lottery funding enables athletes to train full time, access to some of the best coaching and facilities in the world and realise their dreams.

"These athletes are not only sporting heroes, but role models who encourage people of all ages and abilities to actively pursue their passions. Please get voting and show your support for these inspirational athletes who have reached the finals of this year’s National Lottery Awards.”

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, said: "For more than twenty years, National Lottery funding has helped support the successful careers of our sporting heroes - past and present, providing world-class training that has taken them to medal podiums across the globe.

"I want to thank National Lottery players for supporting our elite athletes, who continue to inspire the nation. I urge everyone to get out there and vote for their favourite."

MEET THE FINALISTS:

To vote for your favourites remember to visit lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

The finalists, all of them listed here alphabetically, are:

Katie Archibald, aged 24, from Milngavie, Greater Glasgow, is already a multiple World and European cycling champion, in both individual and team events. In 2018, Katie brought home three Commonwealth Games medals. She has inspired many people to race, as well as simply ride their bikes for pleasure.

Mahama Cho, 28, born in the Ivory Coast he grew up in London and as excelled at Taekwondo, winning silver at the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships. Off the mat, Mahama spends time visiting local schools - a keen advocate for anti-bullying, he speaks of his experience adapting to life in the UK at the age of 8.

Alex Danson, 33, from Southampton, is the GB women’s hockey captain and the epitome of a team player; always the first to acknowledge the athletes around her. With her hockey team, Alex won Commonwealth bronze in 2018 and Olympic gold in Rio 2016. Outside of competition she encourages youngsters to take up hockey and has started her own academy.

Menna Fitzpatrick, 20, from Macclesfield, and her guide Jen Kehoe, 34, from Staffordshire, are Great Britain's most successful winter Paralympians this year. Despite having only five per cent of her vision, Menna and Jen won four medals in alpine skiing at the winter Paralympic Games. Outside of competition they encourage people to get into paraskiing.

Duncan Scott, at just 20, is already a multi medal winning athlete. Hailing from Glasgow, he brought home six swimming medals from this year's Commonwealth Games making him the most successful Scot ever at a single games.

Emma Wiggs, 38, from London, a two-time Paralympian and six-time world champion has represented Great Britain in both Sitting Volleyball and Canoeing. Emma won gold in Paracanoeing at the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016. Outside of competition,she is an advocate for anti-doping and has been awarded an MBE for Services to Canoeing.

Lizzy Yarnold, 31, born in Sevenoaks, Kent, living in Portsmouth, cemented her place in sporting history after winning every major title in her sport of Skeleton in just 407 days. Since her Olympic wins, Lizzy has visited schools encouraging young girls take part in sport and feel good about their body image.