Winning Students 100, Scotland’s national sport scholarship programme, has announced the names of stand-out athletes which will be supported for the coming year, as the scheme hits a record number of applications for the second year running.

The world-leading dual-career programme, which helps student athletes pursue sporting excellence alongside further or higher education, will back 110 outstanding individuals for the 2026-27 term.

With 32 sports and 17 colleges and universities represented, located across the length and breadth of Scotland, from Glasgow to Inverness and Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

The programme has seen a 10% increase in applications over the last two years, with a particular uplift in interest from students competing in sports like cricket, athletics and hockey.

Big names in Scottish sport to be part of the programme include Commonwealth Games double medallist swimmer Angharad Evans, bronze medal winning gymnast Cameron Lynn, decorated long distance runner Megan Keith, and Winter Paralympic medalist, alpine skier Neil Simpson. 

Elsewhere, Scottish hockey players who were part of the team that saw Scotland’s women back at the World Cup for the first time in 24 years, will be backed by the scheme, as well as young curler Logan Carson whose team is about to compete at their first ever Grand Slam contest.

Other exciting new talent joining the programme for the first time include those who made their Commonwealth debuts in Glasgow in August including University of Edinburgh weightlifter Maddie Rosher and City of Glasgow College student and gymnast Ava MacFarlane.

Promising cricketer Ollie Jones joins the programme as one of four cricketers in the scheme this year, while Winning Students 100 also welcomes as cross country mountainbiker of the Open University in Scotland, Freya Mowbray.

Backed by sportscotland and the Scottish Funding Council, Winning Students 100 has supported over 1,800 student athletes since 2008, helping with academic flexibility, tailored support and financial grants of up to £3,000.

The programme aims to help athletes achieve their full potential in education and sport settings and has three priority sports which for 2025-26 are hockey, rowing and swimming. It also runs a hardship fund to promote fairness and equality, helping ensure the best possible support for athletes from areas of high deprivation.

Cathy Gallagher, Chair, Winning Students 100 Advisory Board said: “The Winning Students 100 cohort really represents the brightest young talent in Scotland today. It is a privilege to help develop these extraordinary individuals as they embark on, or progress in, their promising academic and athletic careers.

“It is incredibly heartening to have received such high demand for the programme, breaking records for the second year running. This level of interest in the support shows just how important the programme is to the education and sporting ecosystem in Scotland.

“The breadth of talent represented this year is really exciting and it is with real pride that we back each of these athletes for the coming academic year. We are extremely grateful to our funders and partners who make the programme possible and help us deliver a world-leading initiative which enhances both sport and education in Scotland today.”

For more information about Winning Students 100 and the 2026-27 cohort, visit www.winningstudents-scotland.ac.uk.

Paddle Scotland would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations to Kristina on her selection.