Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Students, staff and alumni of the University are aiming for success at this summer's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The games, which take place between 28 July and 8 August, will see over 5000 athletes, coaches and officials from over 70 countries compete in 18 sports.

A record 58 athletes and support staff, with a connection to the University, will look to emulate the success achieved at previous games.

Good luck to everyone involved

University students, staff and alumni have a proud history of achievement at the Commonwealth Games. At the last Games, which took place at the Gold Coast in 2018, current and former students and associated athletes of the University secured nine medals bringing the total medal count from athletes with a connection to the University at the Commonwealth Games to 45. 

Medal memories

• Corrie Scott - Chemistry Graduate, University of Edinburgh Sports Hall of Fame inductee and Commonwealth Games Medallist.
• Jack Thorpe - Sport and Business Management and PgDip Performance Psychology graduate, and Commonwealth Games Medallist
• Eilidh Doyle - Physical Education graduate and three time Commonwealth Games Medallist
• Shirley McIntosh MBE - Business Studies Graduate and multiple Commonwealth Games Medallist

Student stars

Students from across the University and from a wide range of sports will compete at this year's games. Swimmers Kara Hanlon and Scott Gibson will look to build on their fantastic seasons so far, whilst Diver Grace Reid, competing at her fourth Commonwealth Games, will be looking 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 (who are joining the University in 22/23)

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 also 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 and associated athletes

A host of University alumni will be competing at Birmingham 22. 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. 

Sarah Robertson, who was inducted into the University Sports Hall of Fame in June 2022 will captain the Scotland Women's Hockey team, in her third Games. 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 former Edinburgh basketball star Hannah Robb will be looking for success for Team Scotland on the court. On the 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.

Swimmers Lucy Hope and Tain Bruce will be aiming emulate previous success by Scottish swimmers and compete for medals in the pool.

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

Para swim star Stephen Clegg, who trains with the University Performance Swim programme, will be looking to follow on from his success at Tokyo 2020.

The University will be well represented on the athletics track with graduates Melanie Woods, Sarah Malone and Sarah Inglis representing Team Scotland.

Unfortunately, graduate Steph Davis who was  selected for Birmingham earlier this year, has had to withdraw from the Games due to a foot injury.

Elite officials and support staff

Elite athletes competing at the very pinnacle of their sport require elite referees and umpires to ensure signals are clear, calls are correct and the rules are followed.  University of Edinburgh Sports Hall of Fame inductee Hollie Davidson (2021) personifies all these attributes and will officiate in the Rugby 7s event.

The Commonwealth Games could not take place or athletes compete at such a high level without support of the staff, coaches, physiotherapists and doctors of each of the countries represented. Four members of The University of Edinburgh sport team will be part of the teams behind the teams 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 will be Team England HQ Manager. Mat Trodden (Depute Head of Swimming) is part of the Team Scotland coaching team and Tracy McAdam (Performance Sport Physiotherapist) will help support the Scottish Men's Hockey Team. 

Chris Duncan, a current PHD student with the University will coach the Scotland women's hockey team

University of Edinburgh Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (2012), and three time Commonwealth Games Medallist , Susan Jackson, will attend her 7th games as an athlete or in a supporting role, as part of her position as a Board member of Commonwealth Games Scotland.

Graduate and former Edinburgh University Sports President's Julia Stenhouse is part of the Team Scotland Media team and former Edinburgh University Hockey stalwart George Simonds is part of the Team England Media Team. 

Another PHD student (Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences) Ross Walker is joined by Alumna, double Commonwealth bronze medal winning shooter, Seonaid McIntosh as a Team Scotland Achieve Mentor.

Several former Edinburgh students are also involved in the Games operational teams, including former Tennis club star Sophie Fusco McKeown who is the Events Services Manager and another former Sports President, Eve O'Loan who is part of the Games operational team, as the Venue Operations Manager - Edgbaston Stadium.

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

Further Information

• Performance Sport at The University of Edinburgh
• The University of Edinburgh Sports Hall of Fame
• Team Scotland 2022 Achieve programme
• Birmingham Commonwealth Games (external site)

Other participants

If you are, or you know, a student, staff member or alumna of The University of Edinburgh participating in the Commonwealth Games this summer, who is not listed above please get in touch.