Stirling curling alumni meet Duke and Duchess of Rothesay

Curlers from Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic teams – including graduates of the University of Stirling’s coveted sports scholarship programme – have met Prince William and Princess Catherine.

The athletes had the opportunity to meet the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay during a royal visit to the National Curling Academy at The Peak Leisure Centre, Stirling, on Tuesday 20 January.

Their Royal Highnesses spoke with the curlers and heard about their preparations for the Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Italy – before taking the opportunity to step onto the ice and participate in a curling game themselves. It comes just weeks before the Games get under way – with five former University of Stirling sports scholars selected for the competitions.

University of Stirling alumni Bobby Lammie (back row, fifth from left), Hugh Nibloe (front row, right), Kyle Waddell (fifth from right), and Sophie Jackson (directly in front of Kyle) met the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. Image credit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace.

At the Winter Olympics, which begin on Friday 6 February, graduates Bobby Lammie (BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, graduated 2020), Kyle Waddell (MSc Sports Coaching, graduated 2018) and Sophie Jackson (MSc Psychology of Sport, graduated 2019) will line up for Team GB in curling, while Honorary Graduate Eve Muirhead OBE appointed the team’s Chef de Mission for the Games.

At the Winter Paralympics, which begin on Friday 6 March, former student Hugh Nibloe will compete in wheelchair curling, while graduate Scott Meenagh (BA (Hons) History, graduated 2025) will participate in the para-Nordic skiing events.

Bobby, Kyle, Sophie and Hugh were all in attendance as the Prince and Princess visited the National Curling Academy on Tuesday afternoon.

Exciting

David Bond, Director of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “To have five of our recent sports scholars selected for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics is a significant achievement – and one of which our athletes should be incredibly proud.

“It was great the curlers had the opportunity to meet with The Prince and Princess of Wales earlier today – an exciting start to what promises to be a brilliant few weeks for the athletes.

“We wish Team GB all the best at the competitions – and will be sure to be cheering them on from here at Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.”

Stirling success

Curling traces its roots back to 16th century Scotland and has since become one of Team GB and Paralympics GB’s most successful winter sports – winning six Olympic medals and two Paralympic medals to date. At Beijing 2022, University of Stirling graduates Mili Smith and Hailey Duff, along with Honorary Graduate Eve Muirhead, won gold with the women’s team, while the men’s team – comprising then sports scholar Ross Whyte and recent graduate Bobby Lammie – won silver.

The National Curling Academy opened in August 2017 in the run-up to the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang – giving British Curling athletes a world-class environment to train. Located just a short distance from the Academy, the University of Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence – is a popular destination for curlers seeking to combine their sporting and academic ambitions.

The University of Stirling was established in 1967 by Royal Charter. At Stirling, athletes have access to world-class facilities, including a 50-metre pool, 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 curling, triathlon, football, golf, tennis, swimming and rugby, while individual scholarships cover all Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.

Read more about sports scholarships at the University of Stirling.