Team Scotland’s momentum towards the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games continues to pick up pace with the selection of a seven-strong line up in Para Swimming.
With Glasgow 2026 set to have the largest para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history, four men and three women will make up Team Scotland’s Para Swimming team competing at Tollcross International Swimming Centre this summer.
Toni Shaw is set for a third Games appearance with Team Scotland, while Stephen Clegg, Ollie Carter and Sam Downie return after debuts at Birmingham 2022. Making a first Commonwealth Games are James Clegg, Faye Rogers and Astrid Carroll.
At Paris 2024 Stephen Clegg delivered the first two Paralympic gold medals of his career in the S12 100m Butterfly and 100m Backstroke – setting a new World Record in the latter. A three-time Paralympian, having made his debut at Rio 2016, he also boasts a silver and two bronzes from Tokyo 2020.
Making his Commonwealth Games bow in 2022, Stephen secured a sensational silver in Birmingham in the S13 50m Freestyle, despite swimming up a classification.
Clegg said: “It’s such an honour to be selected for a Commonwealth Games and to have a home Games is such a rare opportunity. To have a crowd that is there for you is really special. As I’ve got older, I have learned to use the crowd in a much more effective way, and I think the atmosphere in Glasgow is going to be huge.”
Also a Paralympic gold medallist at Paris 2024, Faye Rogers won the S10 100m Butterfly and marking an incredible 12 months, that also saw her become World Champion in the same event on her major international debut. In 2025 she won a further five medals at her second World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore and will make her Team Scotland debut in Glasgow.
Rogers shared her excitement: “I’ve never competed for Team Scotland before so it’s my first Commonwealth Games and I feel very fortunate to get a home Games. I am most excited about it being in Glasgow and Scotland so that my family can come.”
There will be an incredible Commonwealth Games debut for London 2012 Paralympic medallist James Clegg, following a triumphant return to the sport.
A medallist at the World Championships in 2013, he makes his first international team in 13 years, joining brother Stephen for the first time. It’s a family affair for the Cleggs, with sister Libby a Paralympic champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist in athletics.
Four years ago Toni Shaw took her first Commonwealth Games medal, clinching an opening night bronze in Birmingham in the S9 100m Freestyle. The Paralympic Games and World Championship medallist will be on the hunt for more silverware this summer.
Also returning to Team Scotland are Sam Downie and Ollie Carter. Sam - who made his international debut just months prior to Birmingham 2022 – was only 16 years old at his first Games, the youngest athlete on the team. He competed in the S9 100m Backstroke, swimming up a classification, and finishing in the top 6 in the event. Ollie took 7th place in Men’s 100m Butterfly S10 – entering poolside in a kilt, in an iconic moment at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
There will be a Commonwealth Games debut for Astrid Carroll, who burst onto the international para swimming scene with a pair of medals at the 2025 World Championships, a silver in the SB12 100m Breaststroke, and a bronze in the S12 100m Backstroke.
Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “I’d like to offer a huge congratulations to all of the athletes who have been selected for Team Scotland at a home Games. We look forward to them representing their families, communities and country with pride in Glasgow this summer.
“There is a huge amount of experience in this Para Swimming team, in both our returning athletes and those making their Commonwealth Games debut. I look forward to watching these athletes deliver what I’m sure will be strong performances in Glasgow and wish them every success.”
Para Swimming will take place at Tollcross International Swimming Centre with competition running from 24 July to 29 July. Tickets to watch Team Scotland compete are available here.
You can learn more about the Glasgow 2026 Para Swimming programme here.
Selected Athletes
Astrid Carroll
Ollie Carter
James Clegg
Stephen Clegg
Sam Downie
Faye Rogers
Toni Shaw
A star-studded trio are the first cycling athletes to be selected to represent Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, after outstanding performances at the recent UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Chile.
Spearheading the cycling team for Glasgow 2026 are Olympic and World champion Katie Archibald MBE, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Mark Stewart and World and European medallist Lauren Bell.
All three riders produced excellent performances at the Championships, with Katie Archibald winning the gold medal in the madison, and silver in the elimination race which is set to make its Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow next year. Mark Stewart claimed silver in the men’s madison, with Lauren Bell having her best year to date with a top ten in the keirin, adding to her hat-trick of British titles won earlier this year at the British Track Championships in Manchester.
Olympic gold medallist in 2016, adding gold and silver at Tokyo 2020, and a seven-time World Champion, Katie Archibald has established herself as a force to be reckoned with over a 12-year period at the top of her sport, from the first of an astonishing 20 European titles in 2013 to her most recent World title in the madison this year.
Her success has been tempered by injury, missing both Birmingham 2022 and Paris 2024 but returns to Team Scotland looking to add to the gold, silver and bronze she won across Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018.
“To be selected feels fantastic,” Katie said. “Pulling on a Scottish jersey was the biggest goal I had in the early days of my career, and it’s never stopped feeling special. A home Games is extra special, not just getting to compete in front of your home crowd, but I think there’s a sense of pride that comes with being the host nation, with being the home of such a great sporting platform, that really adds to the whole experience.
“Glasgow 2014 was this bright light that I walked towards with a massive smile on my face. I understand a bit more now and that can make some things more intimidating and some things more settling, understanding your strengths and understanding how to keep your cool at a major championship. It also hopefully means I can be a steadying presence for some of the younger riders that we will have, where this will be their big start.”
Having made his Team Scotland debut as an 18-year-old at Glasgow 2014, Mark Stewart cemented his pace in Scottish sporting history with a magnificent ride for gold in the Points Race at Gold Coast 2018. The first of his three World Championship medals also came in 2018, a Points Race bronze, followed up by Madison silver in both Glasgow in 2023 and Santiago in October this year. He made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024, finishing 9th in the Madison alongside Ollie Wood.
Mark said: “This will be my fourth Commonwealth Games and my second in Glasgow, which feels like an absolute privilege. When I competed in Glasgow 2014, I was 18 years old and living in the city and it was my first experience of a major games. It was pretty overwhelming to be honest, and quite hard to soak in. I can reflect on it now, but at the time thing were coming at me thick and fast. Whereas now, I can really prepare and enjoy the process of being with the team and being part of a home games and soak up and enjoy all that while it’s happening.
“It means a lot, and it’s only once every four years we get to compete for Team Scotland. It’s just so special to compete for Scotland. We’re so proud to be Scottish that to wear those colours on an international stage is something that will never get old.”
Lauren Bell made her Commonwealth Games debut at Birmingham 2022, with a best result of 6th in the 500m Time Trial. Since then, she has won World and European medals in the Team Sprint and will be aiming for a first Commonwealth Games medal in Glasgow.
“It feels incredible,” she said. “It’s always nice to be selected that wee bit earlier as well so you have that stress gone. I love representing Scotland, we don’t get to do it often so when the opportunity comes it’s really special.
“Birmingham was a great learning experience and next year I think I can do even better and get one of those medals. Whenever I need a bit of motivation in training, I think of the Commonwealth Games and think of winning and hearing Flower of Scotland for that extra boost.
“Whenever you race the crowd are always incredible and bringing it closer to home in Glasgow it’s going to be even louder with all the support. It really does make a difference when you’re going round and to have friends and family in the stadium it makes it really special, because they have such a big part of your career as well.”
Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “We are delighted to welcome the first of our cycling athletes to Team Scotland for Glasgow 2026. The velodrome has provided some of Team Scotland’s greatest successes in recent years and to have some of the athletes that have contributed to that success confirmed on the team at this early stage is fantastic as we head into 2026.
“Congratulations to all three athletes selected, as well as their families, support teams and coaches, and we wish them well in their preparation over the coming months.”
Selection for all three athletes named today comes on the back of meeting the Phase 1 selection requirements detailed in the selection policy and following nomination from Scottish Cycling and subsequent ratification by Commonwealth Games Scotland.
Athletes from across all 10 sports and six para-sports featured at Glasgow 2026 will be selected in the coming months as Team Scotland shapes up for an exciting home Games.
With less than one month to go until the opening ceremony of Seventh Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago 2023, the final athletes representing Team Scotland in the Rugby 7s have now been confirmed. A total of 49 Scottish athletes will travel to Trinidad and Tobago and compete in competition from the 4-11 August 2023.
The 13 named Rugby 7s players, aged 17 and 18 years old, will compete for Team Scotland alongside athletes from the six other sports on the Trinidad and Tobago programme: Netball, Beach Volleyball, Triathlon, Athletics, Cycling and Swimming.
Rugby 7s is a fast paced, high tempo game, played with 7s players a side, for two seven-minute halves. With more room to roam and little time to waste, the result is a version of rugby that is shorter, faster, and higher scoring. The squad selected will be sure to step up to the challenge and aim to make their mark on the international stage.
The Rugby 7s competition will take place at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex on the island of Tobago and will be contested by Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Jamaica, Scotland, Fiji and South Africa.
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, with athletes such as Hannah Miley, Eilish McColgan and Josh Taylor competing at Youth Games before going on to senior success.
Team Scotland 2023 will depart for Trinidad and Tobago on the 1st August, ready to make the most of the multi-sport Games experience and aiming to follow in the footsteps of previous Team Scotland Youth Games athletes.
Congratulating the athletes on their selection, Chef de Mission, Chris Purdie, said, “I am delighted to welcome the 13 Rugby 7s players to Team Scotland, who now make up the complete Scotland delegation heading out to Trinidad and Tobago. With the final athletes confirmed and our Team Camp having taken place, the excitement and anticipation of the games is very high. The hard work and dedication that all of these athletes have put in to get here is fantastic and all truly deserve this opportunity to represent their country on the world stage.”
Craig Dods, who will manage the Rugby 7s team heading out to Trinidad and Tobago, said, “We’re delighted to confirm the 13-player squad that have been selected to represent Team Scotland at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games. The 13 boys will now take part in an intensive month-long programme before flying out at the start of August.”
“All players selected have been part of the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy or involved with our SQ programme. Six members of the team represented Scotland at the U18 Six Nations Festival in Dublin earlier this year. I’m excited to see how this group of players progress in the coming weeks and watch them compete on the international stage.”
Johnny Ventisei, Captain the Scotland side, said, “I’m over the moon to be asked to captain this team at Trinbago 2023. I’m buzzing to represent Team Scotland with the rest of the boys in a once in a lifetime multi-sport games experience in an incredible location.”
Full Team List
Fergus Watson, 17
Ben Morriss, 17
Joe Townshend, 17
Jack Craig, 17
Fergus Wood, 18
Robbie Baird, 18
Matthew Urwin, 18
Jack Hocking, 18
Hugo Alderson, 17
Johnny Ventisei ©, 18
Benjamin Roger, 18
Ross Birnie, 18
Ritchie Mitchell, 17
Craig Dods (Head Coach)
Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS), in conjunction with Table Tennis Scotland, has confirmed today the sports specific selection standards required in Table Tennis and Para-Table Tennis for nomination to Team Scotland for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
These are in addition to the criteria laid down in the General Selection Policy published in January 2020. This means that 18 of the 19 sports on the programme have now agreed the sport specific standards required for athletes to put themselves in the frame for competing at Birmingham 2022.
For all Table Tennis events, participation in the Games is subject to receiving an invite to compete from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). Invitations will be accepted in line with the CGS Selection Policy, with the requirement to demonstrate the potential to place in the top six in the Games.
Teams may qualify through Direct Qualification based on ITTF World Rankings, by winning a Regional Qualifying event or by finishing as the highest ranked nation, not otherwise qualified for Birmingham 2022, at the Commonwealth Championships.
Individual qualification will be through results at a Regional Qualification event and the Commonwealth Championships.
Participation in the Para-Table Tennis events is also by invitation from the CGF, with a maximum of two athletes per country per event. The men’s competition will comprise Standing (Classes 8-10) and Wheelchair (Classes 3-5), while the women’s events will be Standing (Classes 6-10) and Wheelchair (Classes 3-5). Qualification will be based on the ITTF Para Table Tennis Ranking List as at 1 March 2022.
The overall Team Scotland selection period detailed in the CGS General Selection Policy is 1 March 2021 to 15 May 2022. This policy, along with the detailed selection standards for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in all sports published to date are available to download at: https://www.teamscotland.scot/games/birmingham-2022/team-selection/
The first two squash players selected to compete for Team Scotland at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games have been named today by Commonwealth Games Scotland. Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban, both Inverness natives now living in Edinburgh, will take to the courts at Oxenford Studios from 5-15 April, hoping to secure Scotland’s first Squash medal for 20 years.
Clyne in particular is determined to reach the podium next year, having finished fourth in Men’s Doubles at both the Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Games and results from the new partnership with Lobban suggests it could be third time lucky in Gold Coast.
In their first major tournament as a doubles pairing, they claimed World Doubles Championship gold in 2016, during a prolific summer in which both players were also part of the first Scottish team for 17 years to take a European Team Championship medal.
Following their success, serious injury put Lobban out of action for several months, but he has made an outstanding return to the court. Having never previously won a PSA Tour event, he had an incredible run of success in May and June 2017, reaching five finals and taking three titles; one in England and two in New Zealand.
Clyne, meanwhile, took his seventh Scottish national title in March and has risen to a career high of 24th in the World Singles rankings, whilst competing extensively in the World Series and reaching the semi-finals of the 2017 Swedish Open.
Reunited for the defence of their World Doubles Championship title in August this year, the pair put on a phenomenal display to once again reach the final. This time they had to settle for silver and, with Australia taking gold in a reverse of the result from 2016, the scene is now set for an epic showdown at Gold Coast 2018.
Jon Doig, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, welcomed the selections: “We are pleased to be able to confirm Alan and Greg on Team Scotland for Gold Coast 2018, allowing them to concentrate fully on their preparation over the next five months.
“They both bring a wealth of past Games experience and their recent results indicate their medal potential in April next year, which would be a first for Scotland since 1998. I wish them all the best with their training and look forward to watching them compete in Gold Coast.”
Maggie Still, Chief Executive at Scottish Squash added: “At Scottish Squash we are delighted to see the early selection of Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Their recent past achievements will put them among the favourites for a medal on the Gold Coast and we know that both players always give their best for Scotland and are hugely focused and committed performers.
“The past twelve months have been challenging for both players, who have shown great resilience and demonstrated that they are outstanding role models. We are already extremely proud of their achievements and we wish them all the very best in the Games.”
Clyne and Lobban’s selection brings the total number of athletes named to Team Scotland to 33, following team announcements for Swimming and Lawn Bowls in October. Further selections in Squash are scheduled to be announced in February 2018.