Stirling athletes make the grade for World University Games

The University of Stirling’s reputation for sporting excellence continues to flourish after seven student athletes were selected for this year’s World University Games in Chinese Taipei, 19 – 30 August.

Following a number of fine performances across the year, including reaching the last 32 of the Ladies’ British Amateur Championship, golfers Gemma Batty and Chloe Goadby will represent Team GB in Taipei, joining swimming scholar, and Commonwealth Games medallist, Cameron Brodie, who was named in the squad earlier this month after winning silver in the 200m butterfly at the British Championships.

Two of the University’s all-conquering women’s football team, who won the Scottish Universities Championship and Cup double, as well as the British Universities and Colleges Trophy and promotion to the top British league, will also be heading to the far-east, with defender Demi Falconer and midfielder Katy Morris named in the GB squad.

On the international front, Brodie’s fellow swimmer, Calum Bain, has been selected for Team Ireland and will compete in the 400m freestyle event while Batty and Goadby’s golfing teammate, Robert Foley, has been picked for the Swiss student team.

Held biennially in major cities across the globe, the World University Games (WUGS) sees athletes come together to compete across 22 sports, at the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympics.

The announcement is the culmination of a successful period for second year psychology and sport studies student, Goadby, whose selection comes hot on the heels of being named in the Scotland Women’s team for next month’s European Team Championship in Portugal.

Commenting on her selections, Goadby, said: “It’s been a whirlwind few months, between training, competing and exams, so I’ve just been taking it one week at a time. I’ve not really had a chance to think too much about international selections, and have just been focusing on doing everything I can to help me perform at my best and reach these goals. I’m delighted to have been selected, and am looking forward to making the most of these incredible opportunities. Since completing my studies for the year, I’ve been able to dedicate myself to golf full-time during the summer and it’s great to see the hard work paying off.

“To be selected for Scotland and GB is a massive honour and a brilliant opportunity to test my skills against some of the best players in the world. Being part of Stirling’s high performance programme has had a major influence on both my academic and sporting lives and I’m very grateful to the University and our coach Dean Robertson for helping me to get to where I am today. The work I do as part of the ISSP performance golf programme at Stirling complements the hard work I have been doing with my personal coach, David Patrick, and the Scotland national squad. I can’t thank everyone enough for the support, and I am thrilled to be representing my country again and can hopefully continue my good form."

As a former Head of Delegation for Team Ireland, the University of Stirling’s Director of Sport, Cathy Gallagher, has an abundance of World University Games experience and is delighted Stirling will be strongly represented at this year’s competition. “To have seven athletes heading to the Games is testament to the hard work and professional ethos of both the students and coaches in our high performance sport programmes. The students’ ability to combine their studies, with performing at the top level of their sport, is inspiring for everyone at the University and we’re extremely proud of their latest achievements.

“Whilst elite competition is the backbone of our International Sports Scholarship Programme, we also want student athletes to enjoy memorable life experiences during their time at Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and there aren’t many more memorable than the World University Games. It is a truly amazing event and a brilliant opportunity for the Stirling athletes to prove themselves at the top level of international student sport.  The Universiade replicates every aspect of the Olympic Games and our students will thrive in this unique multi-sport experience.”

For more information about the 2017 World University Games visit bucs.org.uk/Taipei