In a radio debate, the 24-year-old, who won silver for Scotland in the 800 metres during this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, responded to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond's characterisation of "Team Scotland" against "Team Westminster" in the independence campaign.

"It is really unfair that Alex Salmond thinks that people who don't agree with him and are voting No aren't in Team Scotland," she said.

"I could not be prouder of the fact that I won my medal for Scotland at Glasgow 2014.

"Am I less Scottish now that I support a No vote?

"Of course not.

"I think my particular concerns are whether Scotland, as an independent country, would have the funds, time and the resources to achieve the same sporting success as we're able to do so at the moment through a British team.

"Secondly I think timing, which has also been touched on, it's unlikely that the Scottish athletes would be able to compete for Scotland at Rio.

"I think that's dependent on a much broader issue obviously of whether Scotland would be recognised as a nation state."

David Beckham, an integral member of the London 2012 Olympics team, has urged Scottish voters "let's stay together" ahead of the impending independence referendum ©Getty Images



Sharp is not the only sporting star who has backed the "No" vote, with former England football captain and member of the London 2012 Olympic team, David Beckham, urging Scottish voters "let's stay together".

"The achievement that gave me the most pride was to captain and play for my country," he added.

"I saw that same pride and passion in every Scottish player and fan whenever we played each other, it was a common bond that I have always related to and admired.

"Representing the United Kingdom with our Olympic bid I felt that same pride and passion.

"We worked together to bring the greatest sporting event of them all to our nation and I was thrilled to watch us competing together against the world.

"I took as much satisfaction in seeing Sir Chris Hoy or Andy Murray win gold as I did watching Jess Ennis and Mo Farah do the same in the Olympic Stadium."

Britain's most successful cycling coach Sir Dave Brailsford, who was instrumental in Sir Chris' career as he led Great Britain to eight gold medals in the Beijing and London Olympics, has also urged Scots to vote "No" on Thursday (September 18) "for the sake of UK sport".

Sir Dave Brailsford believes Scotland should stay in the Union for "the sake of UK sport" ©Getty Images



Sir Dave said the UK's sporting success was down to the pooling of talent and shared resources.

"Scotland has been a huge part of the success of British Cycling, and I hope the UK stays together for the benefit of all sport, but especially Olympic sports like ours," he said.

"UK sport is one of the best things this country has and it is all possible because we can share talent, resources and ideas.

"I was born in England but raised in Wales with Welsh as my first language, and I feel passionately Welsh, English and British, and I feel all the countries of the UK are a big part of my national identity.

"My message to friends in Scotland is simple: 'It is for you to decide your own future but for the sake of UK sport I hope you vote No'."

On the other side of the debate, a number of Scottish sportsmen and women have come out in support of independence with a Sport for Yes campaign set up in May.

The group's members include boxer Alex Arthur, Judo Scotland team member Connie Ramsay and karate and kickboxing champion Samera Ashraf.

Connie Ramsay (right) is part of the Sport for Yes campaign that believes Scotland should vote for independence in Thursday's referendum ©Getty Images


Arthur, a 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games gold medallist and former European Boxing Union and WBO super-featherweight champion, said an independent Scotland would give "more opportunity for our athletes to compete".

"My career highlight was wining gold at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games," said Arthur.

"To win that gold medal for my country and myself was definitely my greatest achievement.

"As an independent nation we will be competing for ourselves which brings more opportunity for our athletes to compete.

"To see one of my sons competing in the Olympics Games for Scotland would be a victory for me because it's something I was never able to achieve."

Connie Ramsay, a key member of Judo Scotland's team, who is both the Scottish and UK number one in the under 57 kilogram class, added: "I'd like to see Scotland as an independent country - we can definitely run our own affairs and make a better job of it ourselves.

"We see other smaller countries like Denmark, Sweden, Norway and they all manage much better than the UK does, so why can't we?

"If everyone gets behind Scotland we can make it work, and make a better go of it.

"And giving more athletes in Scotland an international platform can only be a good thing."

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