Students, staff and family gathered on the University of Stirling campus this week as 22 athletes prepared to head to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The cohort is the largest the university has ever sent to the event, reflecting Stirling’s continued reputation as a national centre for elite sport.
Home-grown talent and internationals
The group comprises competitors across four sports and will represent six countries. In swimming, 13 athletes from the university will take to the pool, including some well-known names on the British scene. Among them are Scotland’s most decorated Olympian and university swimmer Duncan Scott OBE, and breaststroke specialist Angharad Evans. Olympic champions Tom Dean and Freya Anderson, also based at Stirling, will compete for England.
- Total athletes: 22
- Swimmers: 13
- Sports represented: 4
- Countries represented: 6
Leadership and wider representation
University coaches are playing an active role at the Games. Ben Higson and Brad Hay, both part of Stirling’s swim coaching setup, will coach Team Scotland. Artistic gymnastics is represented by university students Cameron Lynn and Crystelle Lake, who carry the added responsibility of team captaincy for Scotland. The contingent also includes wheelchair basketball player Shayne Humphries, who will compete for the host nation.
Among the alumni and students returning to a major competition is Gabriella Wood, long associated with Stirling, who aims for a podium finish in the +78kg judo category for Trinidad and Tobago; she previously made history as the first woman to represent that nation in Olympic judo in 2021.
“We are incredibly proud to see 22 of our talented athletes heading to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to represent their nations on the biggest stage,”
said David Bond, Director of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, who led the campus farewell. He described the university’s role as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and its partnership with Team Scotland as central to the send-off.
Local impact and what to watch for
The presence of so many Stirling-linked athletes at a home Games offers local spectators the chance to follow familiar faces on a major international stage. For the university, the haul underlines the effectiveness of its high-performance environment, coaching and facilities in developing athletes who can compete at the top level.
| Category | Figure |
|---|---|
| Athletes departing from Stirling | 22 |
| Swimmers | 13 |
| Sports represented | 4 |
| Countries represented | 6 |
Supporters in Stirling will be following the Games closely, with hope that the campus send-off translates into strong performances in Glasgow. The blend of experienced internationals and emerging talent means the university’s presence will be felt across the competition.
