Swimming

Performance Swimming at the University of Edinburgh was established in 2008 and since then has become the leading swim programme in Scotland and one of the leading programmes in the UK.

Our Performance Programme

One of the most highly regarded of its kind in the UK, the University of Edinburgh Performance Sport Programme enables athletes to achieve a world-class degree and perform to the best of their ability.

The University of Edinburgh Swimming Programme prides itself on developing individuals with potential and a positive attitude into performance athletes. The programme is aimed at serious athletes who compete at a national and international level. In return for your dedication and hard work, we will offer you world-class training facilities and support to allow you to be the best you can be.

When looking for a university, I wanted somewhere that I could get world-class academics, coaching and facilities. That’s why I chose Edinburgh.

3 Full time coaches
Full-time Strength & Conditioning support
Academic support and flexibility
Performance lifestyle support
Nutritional advice
Physiology support from the University and Scottish Institute of Sport
Technical analysis
Mental skills training and assistance
Access to the world-renowned FASIC Sport & Exercise Medicine Clinic
Performance and technique analysis for racing and training

The Athlete View

I am always proud to represent the University of Edinburgh and can't speak highly enough of the university for the support they have afforded me

David Cumberlidge, Postgraduate Engineering, Gold Medallist in 50m Freestyle at FISU World University Games 2019. Silver Medallist at Commonwealth Games 2018 in 4x100m Free

Competition and Success

Our well-established performance swimming programme has helped to produce Olympic, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth medal winners. We regularly feature in world class competitions in Scotland, Europe and beyond.

Regular top 3 in BUCS
2022 Commonwealth Games: 7 swimmers and silver medal (Stephen Clegg)
World Paralympics: Gold medal (Stephen Clegg)
Scottish National Short Course Championships 2022 : Scottish National Record in 50m Breaststroke (Kara Hanlon)
Olympic Games: Nick Quinn (2016), Yvette Kong (2016), Geo Butler (2016), Lucy Hope (2020), Audai Hassuanan (Libya)
Paralympic Games: Craig Rodgie (2012), James Clegg (2012), Scot Quin (2020), Stephen Clegg (2020)
World Championships Long Course: Monique Olivier (2017, 2019), Nick Quinn (2017), Geo Butler (2015), Yvette Kong (2015), Louise Henley (2009)
World Championships Short Course: Monique Olivier (2016), Geo Butler (2014)
World University Games: Kathryn Greenslade (2017, 2019), David Cumberlidge (2017, 2019), Jack Thorpe (2017), Lucy Hope (2017), Nick Quinn (2015, 2017), Kathryn Johnstone (2015), Lib White (2015), Calum Tait (2015), Caitlin McClatchey (2013)
European Championships Long Course: Lucy Hope (2016, 2018, 2021), Kathryn Greenslade (2018), Monique Olivier (2018, 2021), Nick Quinn (2014, 2016)
European Championships Short Course: Monique Olivier (2019), Kathryn Greenslade (2017)
South East Asian Games: Daniel Lim (2017, 2019)
Commonwealth Games: Lucy Hope (2018), Euan Ingles (2018), Dan Wallace (2018), Lizzie Simmonds (2018), Jack Thorpe (2014, 2018), Kieran McGuckin (2014, 2018), Corrie Scott (2014, 2018), Calum Tait (2014, 2018), Caitlin McClatchey (2014), Sian Morgan (2014), Andrea Strachan (2014), Richard Schaffers (2014), Craig Rodgie (2014), Kathy Johnstone (2014, 2010), Kerry Buchan (2010), Louise Pate (2010)

Studying at Edinburgh

Edinburgh mixes architectural beauty and history with a lively, fun environment and has regularly been voted as one of the most desirable places to live in the world. As part of our Performance Programme, you will develop your athletic and academic skills in tandem, competing for one of the United Kingdom’s best sporting higher education institutions and studying at a university that is consistently ranked in the top 50 in the world:

Over 650 degree programmes
Flexible study
Ranked 10th in the UK for graduate employability by the Times Higher Education, Global Employability Ranking 2018

Find out more about studying at Edinburgh

Elite Athletes Policy

We support elite athletes during the University application process by crediting athletic attainment.

Find out more about our Elite Athlete Policy:

Elite Athlete Policy

Meet the Coach

Chris Jones, Head of Performance Swimming

Head of Performance Swimming, Chris Jones

Head of Swimming, Chris Jones established the University of Edinburgh Swimming Performance Programme in 2008. During his time, the swimming programme has produced many extremely successful athletes.

Chris is a UKCC Level 5 licensed coach with a wealth of knowledge. Some of his coaching successes are:

Coach at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games for Team Scotland
Coach for two European Championships (2016, Ireland Team and 2018, GB Team)
GB Team Coach for European Junior Championships 2016 and European Short Course 2019
2016 Olympic Games Coach (Ireland)
Coach for the two World University Games in 2013 and 2015
Coached countless individuals to Olympic, Paralympic, World, European, Commonwealth and World University Games competition.

Assistant Head Coach, Mat Trodden

Mat joined Edinburgh University in 2014 after a successful 7-year stint at East Lothian where the team became one of the top-performing clubs in the country producing Paralympic medallists and Commonwealth Games athletes. During his time at East Lothian, he also completed an MSc in Strength and Conditioning at the University of Edinburgh. Mat brings a creative style to his coaching, centring around the athlete and how to get the best out of them. Matt is a UKCC Level 3 licensed coach with a BSc Degree in Sports Science and Psychology and an MSc in Strength and Conditioning.

Team Scotland Coach at the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
GB coach at the 2017 and 2019 World University Games.
Coached 30+ Senior National Records (Scottish, Luxembourg, Greek, Irish, British)
Athletes Competing in Olympic (GB), Paralympic, Para World Championships, Commonwealth and European Finals. Amassing multiple medals.

Performance Swim Coach, Danny Kirkham

Danny joined The University of Edinburgh in 2023 after 5 years at East Lothian Swim Team and Musselburgh Amateur Swimming Club. He is a Level 2 UKCC swimming coach and part of Scottish Swimming’s coaching futures apprenticeship. Some of Danny's previous experience includes:

Performance squad coach at East Lothian Swim Team 2018-2023
Head Coach Musselburgh ASC 2018-2023
GB coach at European Juniors 2023
Coached athletes to junior National Records
Coached athletes at Para-world championships, European Youth Olympics and European Juniors
Assistant coach Scottish Junior Team 2022/2023
Lead Scottish Junior Academy 2023

Education:

BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science
MSc Clinical Exercise Science

Our Facilities & Expertise

We train up to 10 times a week at the Royal Commonwealth Pool (50m) and at the University pool at St Leonard’s Land (25m). Our cutting-edge Performance Gym also has everything we need to help you develop as a world-class swimmer. We travel to competitions and meets all over the UK and internationally, attending the likes of the British Championships, University Championships, Mare Nostrum series and US Open. Swimmers Nick Quinn (Ireland), Yvette Kong (Hong Kong) and Geoff Butler (Cayman Islands) all swam for their countries at the 2016 Rio Olympics too.

I’d encourage any student interested in sport to come to Edinburgh. The gym is amazing, probably one of the best university gyms in the world.

We utilise a combination of both long course and short course training facilities, with access to Edinburgh's city centre 50m Royal Commonwealth Pool as well as our University owned, state of the art 25m pool at St Leonard’s Land. St Leonard's is also the home and research facility for the University's Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (ISPEHS). All squads have access to technical analysis and benefit from up to 20 hours of pool time each week.

Strength and Conditioning and other land sessions take place in the bespoke Performance Gym based at the Pleasance Sports Complex and Gym. The Pleasance boasts a number of other cross-training opportunities including spinning and climbing.

FASIC is our world-leading Sport and Exercise medicine clinic and provides sports medicine support for the team in conjunction with Sport Scotland Institute of Sport.

Our events calendar and training camp opportunities vary year on year.

Scholarships

We offer a number of named scholarships available through the application process.

Eric Liddell High Performance Scholarships: Created in memory of one of the University’s sporting greats to help our most talented student athletes attain their sporting ambitions.

The University of Edinburgh Elite Athlete Scholarship Fund: Awarded to support talented student athletes with the purpose of enhancing their dual career (academic and sporting) ambitions and positioning the University as the UK’s foremost Higher Education Institution for performance sport.

The University of Edinburgh is also part of the Winning Students Network, which provides financial scholarships from the Scottish Funding Council to support student athletes.

Further information about sport specific scholarships

Further Information about University scholarships and funding

UK Anti-Doping clean sport policy

The University of Edinburgh is a UK Anti-Doping accredited institution. We are fully committed to clean sport principles and educating all of our athletes in applying these principles correctly. Please feel free to read through our full Clean Sport Policy.

Clean Sport Policy

Ready to take the plunge?

We are always looking for ambitious, academic athletes to realise their potential with us. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of performance swimmers to our Performance Programme. Email our Performance Swimming account to start the conversation about your application:

University of Edinburgh Performance Swim Team

Contact details

Email: performance.swimming@ed.ac.uk

This article was published on 2024-05-13