Sport

Commonwealth Games medal memories with Corrie Scott

As we look ahead to Birmingham 2022 we spoke to Chemistry Graduate, University of Edinburgh Sports Hall of Fame inductee and Commonwealth Games Medallist, Corrie Scott.

Corrie Scott inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame

Profile:

Name: Corrie Scott

Degree: MChem Medicinal & Biological Chemistry (2019)

Sport: Swimming (Breaststroke)

Background

Corrie Scott is one of Scotland’s most decorated and successful breast-stroke swimmers who was a serial winner at Scottish national, British Championships and British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) events. During her University swimming career she received the Eva Bailey Cup for the University’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2014, and a University Blue in 2017. Corrie's glittering swimming career was recognised in 2019 when she was inducted into the University of Edinburgh Sports Hall of Fame.

Corrie was selected for Scotland at 3 Commonwealth Games, making her debut at just 17 at Delhi 2010, going onto compete at Glasgow 14 and Gold Coast 18.

We spoke to Corrie about her memories of studying and competing at University and her magnificent bronze medal win at the Glasgow 14 Commonwealth Games.

Q. How did you get started in the pool?

After I started swimming lessons around the age of 3, my brother who's two years older than me then started swimming at our local club. Looking up to my big brother, I just kind of 'followed' him into the sport when I was 7 and my love for swimming grew from there! 

Corrie Scott swimming

Q. Could you tell us about any special memories of the games you’ve attended and your medal win?

Corrie Scott with Commonwealth Medal

Competing for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games is very special and I was lucky enough to compete at three Commonwealth Games; Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018.

For me they were all amazing games and each had their own special memories.

But the Glasgow 2014 games being at the pool I had swam at since I was a young girl and winning a medal in front of a home crowd definitely has to be the most special memory.  In Glasgow, the roar of the home crowd was unbelievable and even just the atmosphere in the city was electric! 

Q. What is your fondest memory of studying at Edinburgh?

I loved my time studying in Edinburgh. The school of chemistry were so accommodating allowing me to take years out of university to concentrate on my sport while completely my MChem and I'm so thankful for them enabling me to do both! My fondest memory is finishing my 5th year exams and my graduation in 2019 which were just amazing days to celebrate all the hard work that went into getting the degree!! 

Q. What is your fondest memory of sport at Edinburgh?

Corrie Scott in swimming pool

UofE swimming was always one of the loudest and most supportive teams on pool deck. I have so many fun memories racing and supporting the team at competitions like BUCs or Scottish/British Champs. Some of my favourite memories were racing with our relay teams (especially at BUCs!), we always loved an adrenaline packed race and the tight finishes in which we came out top were always the favourite! 

Through sport in Edinburgh, I made some amazing friends and we got to experience amazing things together, for example travelling all over the world to train & compete, such as Arizona, Australia, South Africa and so many more. One of my favourite memories is watching sunset at the top of table mountain in Cape Town with the team!

Any advice you would share for those going to the Birmingham Games?

Enjoy and savour every moment - It's not often you get to compete at multi-sport games or compete for Scotland and that's what makes the commonwealth games so special. 

Corrie Scott on Poolside

Further information