Stirling University’s cohort of athletes who completed at this summer’s Olympics in Paris received a rapturous applause when they returned to the campus this week.
University swimmers who competed at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris – winning three medals – received a wild reception on their return.
Students, staff, alumni and members of the public turned out in huge numbers to welcome the athletes back to their training base at Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence on Tuesday, October 8.
It was a special moment for the group – the largest Stirling contingent to compete at a single games – as they received a guard of honour from well-wishers and were presented with a surprise celebratory cake in recognition of their achievements at the games.
Schoolchildren from a local primary school also joined in the fun – meeting all the athletes and having the opportunity to see their medals up close.
In Paris, Duncan Scott added a gold and silver medal to his honours, to became Scotland’s most decorated Olympian. Fellow Stirling swimmer Jack McMillan also won gold.
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They were joined at the Olympics by fellow Team GB swimmers Kathleen Dawson, Keanna MacInnes, Katie Shanahan, Angharad Evans and Lucy Hope, as well as Zimbabwean Paige van der Westhuizen.
All eight athletes are on the University’s world-leading high-performance swim programme, which provides athletes with a bespoke package of world-class coaching, access to state-of-the-art facilities, performance mentoring and access to the latest innovations in sports research.
David Bond, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “It has been fantastic to see the University of Stirling community come together to celebrate the achievements of our Olympians in Paris.
“As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, sport is very much a part of our DNA here at Stirling and it runs throughout our students, staff, alumni and members of the wider community. They have turned out in great numbers to welcome home our Olympians, who have undoubtedly inspired another generation to embrace sport and pursue their dreams.”