Stirling swimmers to represent UK in World Championships in Japan
Five University of Stirling swimmers have been chosen to represent the UK in one of the most prestigious events on the world sports calendar – the 2023 FINA World Swimming Championships in Japan.
/filters:format(webp)/filters:no_upscale()/prod01/cdn/media/stirling/news/SCO-Duncan-Scott-Medely-4-resized-for-web-banner.jpg)
Five University of Stirling swimmers have been chosen to represent Team GB at one of the most prestigious events on the world sporting calendar – the 2023 FINA World Swimming Championships in Japan.
In the latest triumph for Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, Duncan Scott, Katie Shanahan, Lucy Hope, Keanna MacInnes and Jack McMillan will join the 29-strong British team in Fukuoka, Japan, where more than 2,000 swimmers from 190 countries will compete. In addition, the University of Stirling’s Head Performance Swim Coach Steven Tigg has been selected as a coach at the eight-day event.
The news follows success for Stirling swimmers at last week’s British Swimming Championships in Sheffield, where MacInnes and Shanahan broke three Scottish records.
David Bond, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of our swimmers, who will compete with the world’s best at Fukuoka, and deservedly so. This is a huge moment for our athletes and reflects the world-class coaching, state-of-the-art facilities and sector leading sports scholarship programmes offered at the University of Stirling.
“Congratulations to our selected swimmers and Steve – I know their fellow students and staff will be cheering them on.”
Steven Tigg, Head Performance Swim Coach at the University of Stirling, said: “The selection of five University of Stirling based athletes for the forthcoming World Swimming Championships represents the highest number we’ve had selected for the competition. We were delighted with the standard of performance across the entire University of Stirling swim programme at the recent British selection trials and are particularly proud of those who have been selected for Team GB.
“With a number of world class athletes retiring after the last Olympics and Commonwealth Games, it has been a really exciting season – with lots of new athletes coming on board. The guidance of our more experience athletes, the University’s coaching team including Bradley Hay, Josh Williamson, and Martyn Walton, and our wider support staff has been invaluable.
“We are looking forward to the World Championships and our job now is to identify areas we can develop between now and the summer, with a particular focus on those that fit into our broader perspective ahead of the Paris Olympics next year.”
Head of Performance Sport, University of Stirling
We couldn’t be prouder of our swimmers, who will compete with the world’s best at Fukuoka, and deservedly so. This is a huge moment for our athletes and reflects the world-class coaching, state-of-the-art facilities and sector leading sports scholarship programmes offered at the University of Stirling.
The announcement follows a long run of successes for Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. Stirling’s tennis men’s 1s were crowned best in the UK after winning the British and Universities Sport (BUCS) National Championships; Stirling swimming sensation Duncan Scott became the most decorated British Olympian at a single Games in 2020; Scott and fellow athletes won a record number of medals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022; Stirling sports scholars secured a haul of medals at the Winter Olympics in Beijing; and student footballers made history earlier this year in the Scottish Cup.
The University of Stirling was made Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence in 2008 and was crowned The Times/Sunday Times UK Sports University of the Year in 2020. Since then, the University has further enhanced its sporting prowess by unveiling a new £20 million Sports Centre, comprising a fitness suite, strength and conditioning suite, performance gym, exercise studios and a three-court sports hall. The investment – which complements the existing National Swimming Academy – ensures that Stirling will remain the choice of medal-winning Olympians and Commonwealth Games athletes for years to come.
The FINA World Swimming Championships will take place from July 14 to 30, 2023.