University of Stirling waves off its Commonwealth stars

Prepared, united and brimming with pride, 22 athletes from the University of Stirling – Scotland’s University of Sporting Excellence – received a warm send-off from campus as they departed for the Commonwealth Games.

The passionate Stirling contingent – the largest the University has sent to a Commonwealth Games – are bound for Glasgow 2026, where they will represent six different countries across four sports.

In swimming, 13 athletes – including Scotland’s most decorated Olympian Duncan Scott OBE and record-breaking breaststroke specialist Angharad Evans – will compete for Team Scotland. Olympic champions Tom Dean and Freya Anderson will swim for England, Jack McMillan for Northern Ireland, Peter Allen for Isle of Man and Arvin Shaun Chahal Singh for Malaysia. University swim coaches Ben Higson and Brad Hay will coach Team Scotland at the Games.

The University’s artistic gymnasts Cameron Lynn and Crystelle Lake are team captains for Scotland, while wheelchair basketball player Shayne Humphries will also represent the host nation. Gabriella Wood – a long-time Stirling student who made history in 2021 when she became the first woman ever to compete in judo for Trinidad and Tobago at an Olympics – will also battle it out in Glasgow as she seeks a medal in the +78kg category.

Glasgow bound (L-R): Crystelle Lake, Shayne Humphries, Gabriella Wood and Cameron Lynn are set for action at the Games.

David Bond, Director of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, was first in line to wish the athletes all the best as they made their final preparations before the Games start this week.

“We are incredibly proud to see 22 of our talented athletes heading to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to represent their nations on the biggest stage.

“As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and Team Scotland’s Official University Partner for the Games, it is a privilege to support such an inspiring group of student-athletes, the majority of whom will proudly wear the Team Scotland colours alongside teammates representing Trinidad and Tobago, the Isle of Man, England, Northern Ireland and Malaysia.

“Their dedication, resilience and commitment to excellence embody everything we stand for as a sporting university, and we wish all our athletes the very best as they compete in Glasgow. We cannot wait to cheer them on and celebrate their achievements.”

A guide to Stirling at the Games

Swimming

Eighteen University of Stirling swimmers will compete at Tollcross International Swimming Centre between Friday, 24 July and Wednesday, 29 July.

Swimmers: Ollie Carter, Evie Davis, Sam Downie, Angharad Evans, Dean Fearn, Lucy Grieve, Lucy Hope, Evan Jones*, Keanna MacInnes, Holly McGill, Duncan Scott OBE, Katie Shanahan and George Smith (all Scotland); Tom Dean and Freya Anderson (both England); Jack McMillan (Northern Ireland); Peter Allen (Isle of Man); Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal (Malaysia).
*Note: Evan Jones is a University of Stirling student, who trains at Manchester Performance Centre.

Swim coaches: Ben Higson (Head Performance Swim Coach at the University of Stirling) will lead Team Scotland swimmers at the Games, supported by Brad Hay (High-Performance Swim Coach at the University of Stirling).

Artistic gymnastics

Cameron Lynn and Crystelle Lake will captain Team Scotland in artistic gymnastics, which take place at Glasgow International Arena between Friday, 24 July and Tuesday, 28 July.

Wheelchair basketball

Shayne Humphries makes his Commonwealth Games debut for Team Scotland in the 3x3 men’s wheelchair basketball competition, held at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) from Saturday, 25 July to Wednesday, 29 July. Scotland play South Africa (Saturday), Malaysia (Sunday) and Wales (Monday) in their opening fixtures.

Judo

Gabriella Wood – the first woman ever to represent Trinidad and Tobago in judo at an Olympics – is in action on the final day of the Commonwealth Games. She will compete in the +78kg category at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) on Sunday, 2 August.

Athletics

In addition to the 22 current Stirling athletes listed above, graduate Sarah Tait has also been selected for the Games – representing Team Scotland in the 3,000m steeplechase, at Scotstoun Stadium on Wednesday, 29 July.

University of Stirling: enriching the Games

Away from the competitive action, the University of Stirling community is playing a central role in delivering and celebrating the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Team Scotland partnership: In June, the University of Stirling was announced as Team Scotland’s Official University Partner for the Commonwealth Games – deepening the close working relationship between the two organisations and further underlining Stirling’s impactful role as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.

King’s Baton Relay: Earlier this month, students and staff from the University were joined by members of the local community in welcoming the King’s Baton Relay to campus – one of its first stops on its tour of the country. With Games royalty Dame Louise Martin and Ross Murdoch leading the celebrations, and the University Squirrel in attendance too, it was the perfect family occasion as more than 150 people turned out to greet the Baton at Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. Notably, student-athlete Gabriella Wood launched the King’s Baton Relay alongside The King at Buckingham Palace last March.

Commonwealth Games Archive: The University’s Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive – which provides a rich history of Scotland at the Games – is on display at Glasgow 2026. The Archive is being exhibited at Team Scotland House, at Glasgow’s Corinthian Club, during the Games and university staff are hosting two free public talks on the sporting relics.

Hosting teams, volunteering and a sports newspaper: The University's world-class facilities are a draw for international teams travelling to Glasgow, with Stirling hosting athletes from Team Wales, New Zealand and Botswana. At least 30 students and staff are supporting delivery of the Games through student placement, volunteering and work opportunities, while the University has launched its own sports newspaper, The Daily Difference, to coincide with the Games. Read the newspaper now via this link. 

Team Wales was one of three international teams to base themselves at Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence ahead of the Games.

Team New Zealand enjoyed their stay on the University of Stirling campus pre-Games.

Follow the action via dedicated landing page

For more information on the University of Stirling at Glasgow 2026, visit our dedicated Commonwealth Games webpage, which includes latest news, athlete profiles and links to social media content.