Record number of University of Stirling athletes selected for Commonwealth Games

3 July 2026

22 athletes from Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence are bound for Glasgow

Sports Centre at University of Stirling. — University of Stirling Sport is home to 22 athletes and two coaches set for this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

A record number of athletes from the University of Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence – will compete at the Commonwealth Games this summer, it has been confirmed.

Twenty-two Stirling athletes, representing six different countries and competing in four sports will descend on Glasgow in just three weeks’ time – surpassing the 20 selected for Birmingham 2022.

The University – Team Scotland’s Official University Partner for Glasgow 2026 – will have 16 athletes competing for Scotland, two for England and one each for Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Malaysia and Trinidad and Tobago. The numbers were finalised today as selections were confirmed for Malaysian swimmer Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal and for Gabriella Wood – who, in 2021 while a Stirling student, made history when she became the first woman, and second person ever, to represent Trinidad and Tobago in judo at the Olympics.

Arvin Chahal pictured in front of University loch. Swimmer Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal will represent Malaysia at Glasgow 2026.

Reacting to his selection, Arvin, 25, said: “I’m very excited for my second Commonwealth Games, especially since it’s so close to where I’m living now. It gives me extra motivation to go out there and put on a show for everyone and showcase my hard work that I’ve put in over the past year.

“It’ll feel like a home Games for me, because Scotland is the place I now call home.”

Gabriella, 28, said: “I am excited to have been selected for my second Commonwealth Games team. I've worked incredibly hard to get here, and this selection reflects years of discipline and commitment.

“I am proud to once again represent Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage at Glasgow 2026 and look forward to sharing the stage with some of my country's finest athletes while competing at the highest level.

“My focus now is on building on my performance at Birmingham 2022 and pushing for a podium finish in Glasgow.”

Gabriella Wood pictured on campus. Gabriella Wood will represent Trinidad and Tobago in judo at this summer's Commonwealth Games.

Arvin and Gabriella join a host of University of Stirling athletes already announced – including Scotland’s most successful Olympian Duncan Scott OBE and fellow Olympic champions Tom Dean, Freya Anderson and Jack McMillan.

Cathy Gallagher head shot in a bright building.

Cathy Gallagher
Executive Director of Sport, University of Stirling

As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and Team Scotland’s Official University Partner, we are at the heart of this summer’s Games and have a significant programme of activity planned over the coming weeks. We wish all our athletes the very best of luck as competition begins – we will be on the sidelines cheering them on with our famous Stirling roar.

Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “With just three weeks until the Commonwealth Games get under way, excitement levels are building here on the University of Stirling campus, with a record number of our athletes set for Glasgow.

“Breaking the record is a significant achievement, particularly given the Games has been scaled back to 10 sports, and speaks to the considerable dedication of all our athletes, coaches and support staff here at Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, and the extensive support we continue to receive from our partners. We are very proud of all our athletes and coaches on being selected.

“As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and Team Scotland’s Official University Partner, we are at the heart of this summer’s Games and have a significant programme of activity planned over the coming weeks. We wish all our athletes the very best of luck as competition begins – we will be on the sidelines cheering them on with our famous Stirling roar.”

Confirmed University of Stirling selections

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.

Artistic gymnasts

Crystelle Lake and Cameron Lynn (both Scotland).

Wheelchair basketball

Shayne Humphries (Scotland)

Judo

Gabriella Wood (Trinidad and Tobago)

Coaches

Ben Higson, Head Performance Swim Coach at the University of Stirling, and Bradley Hay, High-Performance Swim Coach at the University of Stirling (both coaching Scotland).

Scholarships

As well as being University of Stirling sports scholars, 11 of the Team Scotland athletes are recipients of the national Winning Students 100 scholarship: Evie, Sam, Angharad, Lucy Grieve, Evan, Holly, Katie, George, Crystelle, Cameron and Shayne.

In addition to current University of Stirling athletes, graduate Sarah Tait has also been selected for the Games – representing Team Scotland in the 3,000m steeplechase.

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 swimming, tennis, golf, triathlon, football, rugby and curling, while individual scholarships cover all Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.