Commonwealth & Olympic Athletes
Here at Glasgow School of Sport we have a long history of successful pupils who have competed in some of the worlds most prestigious sporting events.
Olympic Games: Swimmer Michael Jamieson became the School of Sport’s first Olympian in 2012 and made the entire Nation proud by winning a silver medal in the 200m Breaststroke. In 2016 Badminton player Kirsty Gilmour qualified and competed as World Ranked Number 15 in the Rio Olympic Games Ladies Singles event.
Commonwealth Games: Glasgow School of Sport’s Commonwealth success started with gymnast Lynne Donaghy competing at the Games in Manchester 2002.
In 2010 a magnificent seven pupils from Glasgow School of Sport, represented Team Scotland in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games. Hockey players: Kareena Marshall, Amy Gibson, William Marshall and Kenny Bain, Gymnast Ryan McKee, Badminton player Kirsty Gilmour and Swimmer Michael Jamieson. Michael won silver in the 200m breaststroke and is focussed on winning gold at the next Commonwealth Games in 2014 in Glasgow.
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 showcased 12 pupils from Glasgow School of Sport. Michael Jamieson Won Silver in 200m Breastroke and Kirsty Gilmour Won Silver In Badminton Ladies Singles. Badminton players: Rebekka Findlay and Caitlin Pringle, Hockey Players: Amy Gibson, Susan McGilveray, Kenny Bain, William Marshall, Gymnasts: Amy Reagan, Carly Smith, Cara Kennedy Triathlon: David McNamee
Most recently the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games was the platform for Glasgow School of Sport Athletes to shine. An incredible 13 former pupils of Glasgow School of Sport were part of the Games including 11 members of Team Scotland. At the heart of the team was badminton star Kirsty Gilmour, who won bronze in the women’s singles event. Kelvin Cham was also part of the bronze medal winning men’s gymnastics team.
Former Glasgow School of Sport pupils competed across five different sports (aquatics, badminton, gymnastics, hockey and triathlon), where they represented not only Team Scotland but also Ireland and host nation Australia.
As well as the medal wins in badminton and gymnastics, Kenny Bain, William Marshall and Lee Morton helped the men’s hockey team finish in a best ever 6th place at the Commonwealth Games, while Amy Gibson and Kareena Cuthbert helped the women’s team finish in 7th place in the Gold Coast.
In the gymnastics Cara Kennedy equalled Scotland’s best ever finish for a woman in the all-around event when she finished in 9th position. Team-mate Shannon Archer finished the all-around event in 10th place – the first time Scotland have had two gymnasts finish as highly in the same event.
Glasgow School of Sport also has one of the best high performance coaching teams in the country, with gymnastics coaches Sandra Stevenson and Marius Gherman, hockey coach Derek Forsyth and former strength coach Raymond Cavanagh also part of the ‘team behind the team’ supporting the athletes as part of their preparations for the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Roll of Honour:
- Aquatics: Jamie Graham (Ireland)
- Badminton: Kirsty Gilmour, Eleanor O’Donnell, Adam Hall
- Gymnastics: Kelvin Cham, Cara Kennedy, Shannon Archer
- Hockey: Kenny Bain, Amy Gibson, William Marshall, Kareena Marshall (now Cuthbert), Lee Morton
- Triathlon: Charlotte McShane (Australia)
13 Glasgow School of Sport alumni competed at Birmingham 2022
At the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, pupils and staff at Glasgow School of Sport (GSOS) were delighted to witness 13 school alumni will competing across four sports at the Games.
The baker’s dozen was made up of some athletes attending their first Games, a handful at their second, two completing a Games hat-trick, and one looking forward to their fourth competition as part of Team Scotland.
Badminton was the most-represented sport with a total of six ex-GSOS pupils heading to Birmingham. Two-time Commonwealth medallist and Olympian Kirsty Gilmour would lead the team into her fourth Commonwealth Games and had the great honour of being the Scotland Flag Bearer, , while European Men’s Doubles Silver medallist Adam Hall and European Women’s Team Bronze medallist Eleanor O’Donnell returned for their second Games, representing Scotland in Men’s and Mixed Doubles, and Ladies and Mixed Doubles respectively.
Rounding off the Badminton School of Sport representation at their first-ever Commonwealth Games were Ciara Torrance, European Women’s Team Bronze Medallist, playing in the Ladies and Mixed Doubles, and twins Christopher and Matthew Grimley, Scottish Open Men’s Doubles Champions, playing in the Men’s and Mixed Doubles.
Three alumni will don the Saltire at the University of Birmingham Hockey Centre, with goalkeeper Amy Gibson defending the Women’s team goals at her fourth Games. Seventy-time Scotland cap Lee Morton returned for his second Games as part of the Men’s team, and 2018 graduate Bronwyn Shields made her first ever Commonwealth Games appearance with the Women’s team.
The Artistic Gymnastics competition saw three ex-GSOS pupils, GB Senior Women’s Squad member Shannon Archer competing in her second games secured a Vault Bronze Medal while three-time Scottish All-Around Champion Cara Kennedy competed in her third Commonwealth Games. Competing in his first Commonwealth Games, was GB Senior Men’s Squad member Pavel Karnejenko.
And finally, former GSOS Athletics pupil Charlotte McShane competed in her second Commonwealth Games triathlon competition for Team Australia after her family emigrated from Scotland in 2005.