Eight rising stars of the pool and six cyclists are the latest additions to Team Scotland for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad & Tobago this summer. With just under two months to go until the Trinbago 2023 Opening Ceremony, the team is taking shape, with athletes now confirmed in four of the seven sports.

The concept of the Youth Games was created by Scotland in 2000 with the aim of developing young athletes and giving them an early experience of an international multi-sport environment. The event now has a proven track record of uncovering future champions at senior level, and it has been integral to the development of Commonwealth Games athletes in both sports, such as Hannah Miley, Craig Benson and Grant Ferguson.

It’s a double celebration for Birmingham 2022 finalist Holly McGill, who turns 18 this week, as well as joining a select few athletes to have competed at a senior Commonwealth Games prior to Youth Games selection. Badminton player Kirsty Gilmour, gymnast Adam Cox and 400m runner Gemma Nicol the only other athletes to achieve this feat. Also a finalist at the European Juniors last year, Holly has qualified for the same championships again next month, as have her Trinbago 2023 team mates Matthew Ward, Laurie Devine and Stefan Krawiec, himself a bronze medallist at last year’s European Youth Olympics.

All six of the cycling team were involved in international action earlier this year at the Next Generation Track Event in the Netherlands, against teams from all over Europe & North America. Sarah Johnson and Calum Moir were gold medallists with the GB Team Sprint and Team Pursuit squads respectively, with Joe Cosgrove and Millie Thomson both recording top 10 finishes in individual events. Evie White celebrates selection having lifted the Scottish Omnium title last month, with Elliot Rowe, the 2022 British Youth Circuit champion also named for Trinbago.

The athletes, aged between 15-18 years old, will compete for Team Scotland alongside athletes from the five other sports on the Trinidad and Tobago programme: Rugby 7s, Beach Volleyball, Triathlon, Athletics, and Netball. Both Cycling and Swimming competition will take place on Trinidad.

Chef de Mission, Chris Purdie, said, “I’m delighted to welcome our swimmers and cyclists to Team Scotland. The Youth Games are an exciting first step into Commonwealth competition and provide the ideal platform for young athletes to develop and gain competition experience for future events. I would like to congratulate all of them on their selection and wish them every success at Trinbago 2023.”

Swimmer Holly McGill said: “This past year has been a bit of coming back down to earth after Birmingham last year. It’s given me that hunger to go out there and compete on the big stage again, because I really just enjoyed it so much. This opportunity has given me that thing to work towards in training, and I just can’t wait for summer now.

“I just want to go out there and compete at my best. Hopefully I can be back to where I was in Birmingham last year and kick on from where I was at British Champs.”

Track cyclist Sarah Johnson said: “Scottish Cycling has done so much for me so it will be lovely competing in Team Scotland colours for the first time. Being selected has given me more confidence as a rider and make me more excited for what is to come.”

“I’ve grown up racing with many of my teammates so it will be great to be part of the team. I’ll be able to gain more experience competing against other high-level athletes from different countries and I’ll have the support of my coaches to help me along the way.”

“I’m really looking forward to meeting new people from different countries and learning about different cultures. I’m looking to gain more experience and adjust to the challenges of racing abroad.

“I competed at the Future Track Stars event in Apeldoorn in January, which was my first international competition, so competing at the Youth Commonwealth Games will give more experience of racing at a high level.”

The Commonwealth Youth Games take place from 4-11 August 2023. Athletes in Rugby 7s and Athletics will be announced later this month.

Selected Athletes

CYCLING

Joe Cosgrove, 17 (Road)

Sarah Johnson, 17 (Track)

Calum Moir, 18 (Track)

Elliot Rowe, 17 (Road and Track)

Millie Thomson, 17 (Road and Track)

Evie White, 18 (Road)

SWIMMING

Evan Davidson, 16

Laurie Devine, 17

Dean Fearne, 15

Stefan Krawiec, 15

Sean McCann, 18

Holly McGill, 18

Drew McKenzie, 18

Matthew Ward, 18