More than 50 student athletes competing for Team Scotland

Photo: Commonwealth Games 2026

An incredible 27 current Winning Students 100 scholars have been selected to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow starting this week, with a further 25 programme alumni also taking to one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.

Athletes from eight further and higher education institutions across Scotland, all backed by Scotland’s national sport scholarship programme, are representing Team Scotland in no less than 11 sports.

Winning Students 100 was established with Scottish Funding Council (SFC) funding in 2008 and saw over 1,700 scholarships awarded during its first phase. Well known athletes who have benefited from the scheme include Olympic medallists Laura Muir, Duncan Scott, Vicky Wright and Seonaid McIntosh.

Now, the programme is set to continue until 2028 and was relaunched as Winning Students 100 in 2024. The initiative provides athletes with grants of up to £3,000 and offers them additional support such as academic flexibility. Winning Students 100 also includes a hardship fund offering additional support to eligible student athletes.

This Commonwealth Games in athletics, University of Edinburgh Applied Sport Science student Megan Keith will be in search of Commonwealth glory in the 5,000m and 10,000m events while teammate Alyson Bell will be taking on the 200m and 4x100m relay.

Previous athletics scholars including legendary runners Eilish McColgan and Laura Muir, as well as Christopher Bennett, Sarah Calvert, Stephen Mackenzie and Jax Thoirs will all be taking to the track and field in the coming weeks, in everything from pole vault and hammer to mile race and long jump.

Cycling sees Scottish legend Mark Stewart of the University of Strathclyde make his fourth Games appearances, while past Winning Students 100 scholars Neah Evans and Lauren Bell will also be in action in Glasgow.

A formidable swimming contingent will head to the Commonwealth Games, with twelve current scholars selected for the pool programme, including Angharad Evans, Evie Davis, Lucy Grieve, Jamie Ferguson, Archie Goodburn, Evan Jones, Stefan Krawiec, Holly McGill, Anna Morgan, Ciara Schlosshan, Katie Shanahan and George Smith.

They will be joined by alumni Duncan Scott, Lucy Hope, Keanna MacInnes and Scott Gibson, creating one of the strongest Winning Students 100 representations at any Games.

In para-swimming, current scholars Faye Rogers, Sam Downie and Toni Shaw will compete alongside alumni James Clegg, Stephen Clegg and Ollie Carter.

Katie Shanahan, who won bronze in the 400m Individual Medley and 200m Backstroke at Birmingham 2022, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be picked for my second Commonwealth Games. I’ve got a lot of family and friends coming to watch and it’s literally down the road from where I live so it just makes it even more special. It’s not long now with the final preparations and competitions coming up and the excitement is definitely building.

“Competing for Team Scotland is just so different, it only happens once every four years and there’s a different energy about it all. It’s different in a very good way and I’m looking forward to getting back in that environment in the prep camp and then in Glasgow. I just can’t wait to compete.”

Jacqui Brasted, Director in Strategic Transformation & Skills at SFC said,

“Having funded the programme from the start we’re incredibly proud to support Winning Students 100 athletes this Commonwealth Games. Seeing 27 current scholars and 25 alumni selected to compete is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their dedication, hard work and talent.

“These athletes demonstrate that it is possible to pursue academic success while performing at the highest levels of international competition. We wish every member of Team Scotland the best as they prepare to represent their country and inspire the next generation of student athletes across Scotland.”

Cathy Gallagher, Chair, Winning Students 100 Advisory Board said: “The Commonwealth Games represent another significant milestone for the Winning Students 100 programme, which proudly supports some of the country’s most talented student athletes as they pursue success at the highest level.

“As Glasgow prepares to welcome the world’s athletes this summer, dozens of current and former scholars will be among those flying the flag for their nations, demonstrating the strength, depth and future of sport development in Scotland. I have no doubt the Games will be an incredible moment of pride for all those involved and I wish the athletes every success for this momentous occasion.”

The impressive Commonwealth Games representation underlines the role Winning Students 100 plays in helping student athletes balance elite sport with higher education, providing support that enables them to pursue success both in competition and academia.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games runs from 23 July – 2 August 2026.