University of Stirling swimmers return from Worlds with four medals

University of Stirling swimmers Duncan Scott and Lucy Hope have returned from the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, with four medals between them.

Scott, 26, won gold and bronze in relay events, as well as an individual silver, while Hope, 26, also took bronze as part of the relay.

Scott, Matthew Richards, James Guy and Tom Dean - swimming for Great Britain - saw off the challenge of the United States to win gold in the Men's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay on Friday.

The Britons were leading after opening legs from Scott and Richards, with the Americans, Australians and Germans hot on their heels. However, Guy and Dean powered the Britons over the line, taking gold with a time of 6:59.08, 0.94s ahead of the second-placed United States and 3.05s ahead of bronze medallists Australia.

It came just a day after Scott won an individual silver medal in the Men's 200m Medley. He finished 1.13 seconds behind Leon Marchand of France and 0.12 seconds in front of relay teammate Dean.

And both Scott and Hope were part of the Mixed 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay team that won bronze on Sunday afternoon - with Scott swimming in the final alongside Richards, Anna Hopkin and Freya Anderson, and Hope helping the team to qualify earlier in the heats. In the final, Great Britain finished third - behind gold medallists Australia, who recorded a world record time of 3:18.83m, and the USA in second.

Stirling swimmer Lucy Hope won bronze in Fukuoka, Japan.

Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director for Sport at the University of Stirling, said: "A massive congratulations to Duncan and Lucy on their medals at the World Aquatics Championships, and to all seven of our swimmers who competed at the event. We are absolutely delighted that our athletes are returning from Fukuoka with a gold, silver and two bronze medals - it's a fantastic achievement, which reflects the world-class environment we have here at Stirling, Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence.

"I also send our congratulations to our High Performance Swim Coach Steve Tigg, who travelled to Japan with British Swimming to support the athletes; these medals are testament to the phenomenal leadership and coaching that he and his team deliver at the University. 

"We have enjoyed watching our swimmers go up against the best in the world over the past week, and this is excellent preparation for the athletes in the lead up to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris."

Speaking after winning his individual silver medal on Thursday, Scott, 26 - who missed last year's World Championships due to illness - said: "I was absolutely gutted to miss out on Worlds last year. What I love to do is compete on the highest stage, and not getting to do that last year was really upsetting.

"Look, it's the first time I've raced some of those boys - a lot of them are really young, Carson, Leon and then it's the first time on an international stage with Deano, really. I'm just really happy to be back in the mix there. I stuck to what I wanted to do really well. I was just hurting at 150m more than I thought I would be - but to give myself a chance in the race, I knew I had to be there at 150m. I was really happy with that."

Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, congratulated Duncan Scott and Lucy Hope on their World Championship medals.

Hope also recorded two fourth placed finishes at the Championships, in the Women's 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m Freestyle Relays, while Stirling teammate Katie Shanahan came fourth in the 200m Backstroke final.

Other Stirling athletes in action at the Championships include Keanna MacInnes, (Great Britain), Salvador Gordo (Angola), Paige Van Der Westhuizen (Zimbabwe), and Swaleh Talib (Kenya). 

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.