Stirling trio take to the ice for World University Winter Games

Three University of Stirling students will compete at the highest level of student sport in March after being named in the GB squad for the 29th World University Winter Games in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Curling scholars, Sophie Jackson, Mili Smith and Ross Whyte will make their debuts at the Games, following recent successes at world junior and national senior level.

Hosted every two years, the Games are organised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and see over 3000 of the world's best student athletes compete in 11 sports across 11 days of competition at the world's second largest winter multi-sport event.

Whilst the athletes will be faced with temperatures as low as -30 degrees, they can expect a warm welcome to the Games, with over 100,000 spectators expecting to be in attendance and 1.5 billion TV viewers globally. 

The Stirling group follow the footsteps of current student, Bobby Lammie, who won the World Universities curling title in 2017 and has since gone on to win bronze at the World Senior Championships and gold at the senior European Championships.

Masters student Jackson, who is a former Junior World silver medallist and competed at last year’s senior World Championships in Canada, will lead the women’s curling team including regular teammates Smith, Naomi Brown and Sophie Sinclair, who are hoping to add a World Universities medal to their growing list of accolades. She said:

"We are really excited to be selected to compete at the World University Games in Krasnoyarsk. For four of us it will be our first time representing Great Britain which will make the experience extra special. We are all extremely grateful for the support from our universities in allowing us to take part in these games, the academic flexibility we receive is vital to our ability to perform to our best ability. We are looking forward to once again having to chance to play and compete for a world medal."

Off the ice, the University will be represented by Performance Sport Co-ordinator, Chris Purdie, who has been designated Team GB’s Deputy Chef de Mission and will assume responsibility for the team’s day-to-day operations and headquarters activity whilst in Russia.

Follow all the action on FISU TV. 

Keep up with the team by following @BUCSSport on Twitter and Instagram.