HE has travelled the world from his Faifley origins during a fascinating dance, rowing and yoga career, taking in America, Thailand, Nepal and Dubai.

But now Miki Lee Dale is back and using his skills to help young people – and he’s been recognised as one of Scotland’s top coaches.

The 35-year-old has been helping the next generation into rowing with the Stewards’ Charitable Trust, Active East Rowing, Glasgow Rowing Club and Scottish Sporting Futures.

A number of his east end students took part in the summer regatta on the Clyde.

Last week, sportscotland named Miki Lee their Young Person’s Coach of the Year at a special ceremony.

He said: “I’m inspired to work with young people because I am from Clydebank and I want to give something back.”

He went to Manchester to study nutrition, and while there joined a theatre youth group – and a choreographer working with the group told him he should pursue dance.

Miki Lee said: “So I moved to New York – jumped in head first. I needed that spur to motivate me before I was too old and her words gave me the permission to try.”

Following a stint in America, Miki Lee later moved to Nottingham and worked in schools theatre. He then came back to Scotland and auditioned for the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance (SSCD), before working for Scottish Dance Theatre, where yoga was part of the syllabus.

Yoga was part of the syllabus there and Miki Lee wanted to study it further so he moved to Thailand for six months, then lived in Dubai for a year setting up a yoga studio.

From there he went to work for Circus Kathmandu in Nepal and was living there when the coutnry was struck by a devastating earthquake in 2015.

Miki Lee ended up with post-traumatic stress disorder following the disaster and so came back to Glasgow to recuperate.

He found he needed something more focused and less creative to occupy himself, eventually working with Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club and setting up a new rowing club in Firhill to get more young people involved.

Through his work with LGBT Youth Scotland and LEAP Sports, he has strived to break down barriers that exist for the LGBT community in sport.

Miki Lee works with a variety of organisations, including PEEK, FAIR and housing associations, as well as working in Maryhill and the Gorbals.

He said: “We go to them, rather than having young people coming to us. Rowing has that aspect of giving them a focus and new skill set. You can’t just power through, you need technique and finesse.

“Rowing is seen as elitist but it’s really community based and welcoming. It is interesting for young people to step into a world they think isn’t theirs.

“My travelling opened up the world to me and made me appreciate people. Rowing shows them they can see life from a different perspective.”

He added: “LGBT young people often feel excluded from sport for a variety of reasons and so it’s important to make sure they know that there is a space for them to take part.

“I get a lot from seeing young people grow in confidence so I’m really taken aback to win this award.”

“It’s just what I love doing.”