18 medals for Stirling swimmers at British Champs

University of Stirling swimmers are in fine form ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games – returning from the Aquatics GB Championships with 18 medals and new national records.

There were eight gold, four silver and six bronze medals won by Stirling athletes at the action-packed six-day meet at the London Aquatics Centre – which doubles as a selection event for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and European Aquatics Championships in Paris.

Angharad Evans, Keanna Macinnes and Duncan Scott won two gold medals each, while there was one each for Katie Shanahan and Sam Downie. Notably, Evans made history as she broke two British records as she stormed to the 100m and 200m Breaststroke titles, while Macinnes set a new Scottish record in the 100m Butterfly.

Commenting on the successes, University of Stirling Director of Performance Sport, David Bond said: “It’s been another hugely successful Aquatics GB Championships for the programme with Stirling athletes putting in some fantastic performances across the board.

“Ben and the team have done a superb job preparing the group and the results are a reflection of the quality and detail of their coaching and how it brings the best out of our athletes.

“With arguably our strongest ever squad of swimmers, the programme continues to go from strength to strength and we’re really excited to see what they can achieve at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships in the summer.”

Golden touch

In the 200m Breaststroke final, Evans produced a stunning performance to smash the previous British record by more than a second and touch the wall in 2:19.70. The swim was also internationally significant, with it confirmed as the fastest in the world this year and the ninth quickest of all-time in the event. She finished ahead of Abbie Wood (2:24.72) in second and Anna Morgan (2:26.40) in third, Evans reflected on her latest success.

Speaking after her first record-breaking final of the week, the 22-year-old Olympian – who has already been pre-selected for Team Scotland’s squad for Glasgow 2026 – said: “The time still has not settled in. I heard the crowd really loudly and I was hoping I was beating my personal best. To not only get the British record but to be the first British woman sub-2.20 is absolutely phenomenal, and I don’t think it will sink in for some time.”

In the 100m event on the final day, Evans swam a time of 1:04.96 – lowering her own British record and becoming the first Brit to go under 65 seconds – to finish ahead of Gabrielle Idle-Beavers (1:07.69). The time was also the fastest in the world in the event this year.

Scott – also a pre-selection for Team Scotland – edged the 200m Butterfly, with a time of 1:54.97 – just six hundredths of a second ahead of Edward Mildred in second. Notably for Scott, his swim also met the European Championships nomination time. The 28-year-old – Scotland’s most decorated Olympian – also took the 200m Individual Medley crown (1:56.08), ahead of second-placed Evan Jones (1:58.09).

Macinnes won both the 100m and 200m Butterfly events. In the 100m, she set a new Scottish record as she touched the wall in 57.57 and fellow Stirling athlete Lucy Grieve finished third (58.56). In the 200m, Macinnes finished with a time of 2:07.02, ahead of Emily Richards (2:07.70).

Meanwhile, Shanahan won gold and met the Glasgow 2026 consideration time in the 200m Backstroke (2:09.89), ahead of Honey Osrin (2:10.12) in second and Stirling’s Holly McGill (2:11.71) in third.

Downie was crowned champion in the Multi-classification 400m Freestyle, winning in 4:44.07.

Podium places and nomination standards

Also at the meet, there were silver medals for Freya Anderson, Evie Davis, Jack McMillan and Suzie McNair and bronze medals for Downie, Lucy Grieve, McGill, Scott and Shanahan. See full medal breakdown in table below.

There were also further consideration standards for the Commonwealth Games hit by Northern Irish swimmer McMillan (100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle) and Scots Evie Davis (100m Freestyle), Lucy Grieve (100m and 200m Butterfly), Macinnes (100m and 200m Butterfly), Holly McGill (200m Backstroke) and George Smith (200m Breaststroke, 400 Individual Medley).

Scott and Macmillan also confirmed their places on Aquatics GB’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay team, alongside James Guy and Matthew Richards.

University of Stirling medal table: Aquatics GB Championships 2026

Teams are set to confirm their final squad selections for the Commonwealth Games in the coming weeks. In February it was confirmed that University of Stirling Head Coach Ben Higson will head up Team Scotland’s swim team in Glasgow.

The University’s high-performance swim programme is led by Higson and supported by coaches Bradley Hay, Josh Williamson and Charlie Boldison.

The University of Stirling is Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. Through the powerful and inspirational combination of performance sport, recreational sport, research and education, we are delivering medals on the world stage, improving the health and wellbeing of the nation, and producing the next generation of leaders within sport.

At Stirling, athletes have access to world-class facilities, including a 50-metre pool, a state-of-the-art indoor golf studio, unrivalled outdoor space, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning suites. In addition to its coaching and facilities, Stirling’s International Sports Scholarship Programme – one of the largest high-performance programmes in the UK – offers athletes funding support, academic flexibility, equipment and kit. It has supported hundreds of athletes since its inception in 1981 – with many competing on the world stage, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. Core sports include tennis, golf, triathlon, football, swimming, rugby and curling, while individual scholarships cover all Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.

Read more about sports scholarships at the University of Stirling.