Swimming

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.

• 2 Full time coaches
• Strength & Conditioning support
• Academic support and flexibility
• Performance lifestyle support
• Nutritional advice
• Physiology support from the University and Scottish Institute of Sport
• Technical analysis
• Sport psychology
• Access to the world-renowned Edinburgh Sports Clinic | Edinburgh Sport | Sport and Exercise
• Performance and technique analysis for racing and training

Head Swim 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. 

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 experiences include:

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

BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise ScienceMSc Clinical Exercise Science

Our Facilities 

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. 

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.

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