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Birmingham belief for Edinburgh athletes

A record number of University participants will take part in this year’s Commonwealth Games.

Some 56 students, staff and alumni will be in action in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August, joining 5000 athletes, coaches and officials from over 70 countries across 18 sports.  This is the largest ever University sporting contingent to be involved in a major Games.

A history of success

University students, staff and alumni have a proud history of achievement at the Commonwealth Games.

At the Gold Coast in 2018 Edinburgh athletes secured nine medals, bringing the University’s total medal count at all Commonwealth Games to 45.

Student stars

Students from a range of academic disciplines including Chemical Engineering, Medicine, Law, English Literature, and Biomedical Sciences will take part in an array of sports throughout the Games.

Swimmers Kara Hanlon and Scott Gibson will look to build on their fantastic seasons so far. Diver Grace Reid, competing at her fourth Commonwealth Games, will be aiming to repeat her Gold Coast Games medal success.

Joining Kara, Scott and Grace in the aquatics competitions will be Archie Goodburn, Ross Beattie, Gemma McArthur, Clara Kerr, Thomas Carswell, Imara Bella Thorpe, Angus Menmuir and Danny Mabbott.

Away from the pool, basketballer Sian Philips, mountain biker Charlie Aldridge, judo player Kirsty Marsh and squash player Georgia Adderley will be aiming for success in their respective competitions.

The University will be well represented on hockey pitch, with student Eve Pearson selected alongside a number of alumni and associated athletes for Team Scotland.

There will also be a strong Edinburgh contingent on the Rugby 7's pitch with two students, Meryl Smith and Shona Campbell, joined by six University alumni.

Amazing alumni

A host of University alumni will compete in Birmingham.

Claire Maxwell, who was inducted into the University of Edinburgh Sports Hall of Fame in 2020, will captain the Scotland Netball team at her third Games. She will be joined on the court by fellow Alumna Emily Nicholl.

Another 2020 Sports Hall of Fame star Alan Clyne will be looking for success on the squash court at his fourth Commonwealth Games.

Hockey

Sarah Robertson, who was inducted into the University Sports Hall of Fame in June 2022, will captain the Scotland Women's Hockey team. Sarah will be joined on the hockey pitch by Edinburgh University Hockey Club players Louise Campbell, Nicola Cochrane, Jessica Ross and Amy Costello and Katie Robertson, who will play the role of vice-captain. Edinburgh Alum Laura Swanson has been selected as one of the five reserves.

In the men's hockey competition, Alumni Callum Duke and Dave Forrester will represent Team Scotland.

Sport Science Alum Sarah Malone is part of the Team Scotland 4 x 100m relay team, and joining her in the athletics team, PE Alum Melanie Woods will compete in the T54 1500M.  Former Edinburgh basketball star Hannah Robb will be looking for success for Team Scotland on the court.

Sarah Adlington, competing in her second games following her gold medal success at Glasgow 2014,  and Dylan Munro will represent Scotland on the Judo tatami.

Rugby

On the Rugby 7's pitch, six alumna will compete for Team Scotland: Evie Gallagher, Helen Nelson, Lisa Thomson, Liz Musgrove, Megan Gaffney and Rhona Lloyd.

Hollie Davidson, Scotland’s first female professional referee, who graduated from the University with a degree in Economic History in 2014 and also recently inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame, will officiate in the Rugby 7s event.

Swimming

Swimmers Lucy Hope and Tain Bruce will compete for medals in the pool and para swim star Stephen Clegg, who trains with the University Performance Swim programme, will be looking to follow on from his medal successes at Tokyo 2020 and last month’s World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira.

Supporting roles

Four members of Edinburgh’s sport team will be part of the teams behind the scenes at Birmingham 2022.

Dr Alastair Nicol (FASIC Sport and Exercise Medicine Clinic Medical Director) will be part of the medical team at his fourth Commonwealth Games, Performance Sport Co-ordinator Katrina Bass takes the role of Team England HQ Manager, Mat Trodden (Depute Head of Swimming) is part of the Team Scotland coaching team, Tracy McAdam (Performance Sport Physiotherapist) will help support the Scottish Men's Hockey Team, and Chris Duncan, a current PhD student with the University will coach the Scotland women's hockey team.

Stars of the future

Four athletes with a connection to the University have been selected to take part in the Team Scotland 2022 Achieve programme, which helps to develop up-and-coming athletes and coaches.

 Students Lucy Evans (shooting), Lucy Murchie (squash) and Rachel Morrison (volleyball) are joined by associate athlete Zoe Sharp (basketball).

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