Last week we celebrated Scottish Women & Girls in Sport Week. Here's a collection of all the student stories posted on our social media throughout the week.
Monday 30th September- Sunday 6th October marks the annual Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week. We’ve collected stories from inspirational students across the campuses to mark the occasion.
Rowan
Rowan is a student at UHI Perth and plays on the UHI Shinty Team as well as for Aberdour Shinty Club. She was also captain for the under 16s East of Scotland Team. Here's what she has to say about being a woman in sport:
Women in Sport: "I grew up in a male dominated team so it is great to see more girls getting involved in shinty. I coached an all girls team and now coach a p6/7 team and it’s great to see how enthusiastic the young girls are about the sport."
What I enjoy: "I have been playing shinty for 10 years now and it is my favourite thing to do, it’s a fun, fast and friendly sport which also gives you a chance to discover more places around Scotland."
Role model: "My role model would be Lisa Norman MacColl. Lisa is the founder of Aberdour Shinty Club and has been an inspiration since i first joined the club. She has given me so many opportunities in shinty and taught me so much."
Wiktoria
"My name is Wiktoria Mucha – I’m a wheelchair fencer from Salle Ossian Fencing Club in Perth and a student at UHI Perth.
In honour of Women and Girls in Sport Week I wanted to talk a little bit about what being a woman in sport means to me and why I feel it's so important.
Sport has always had an extremely positive impact on my life, I have participated in many sports throughout my younger years but it wasn’t until I participated in a Come & Try Wheelchair Fencing session that was delivered by Salle Ossian Fencing Club in partnership with Perth & Kinross disability sport that I first tried the sport and immediately knew that it was the one sport that I wanted to participate in for many years to come – it’s been 3 years and it’s been the best 3 years I could ever ask for.
Being a woman in sport means so much to me because it shows me that even despite some of the challenges, I face day to day with my disability I can participate in the sport that I love, achieve great things and inspire other people along the way, showing that anything is possible if you have a passion.
My biggest role models within sport are my coaches and teammates at Salle Ossian fencing club as well as my teammates from my athlete development program (ADP) who have taught me everything I know. Someone else who is very important to me who I see as a role model is Gemma Collis – a wheelchair fencer representing GB. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Gemma in 2023 at the British Open Championships, before this I had heard many great things about her but it wasn’t until we met that I realised just how amazing she really is. Gemma inspires me in many ways from her mental toughness to the way she fences and how powerful she is as athlete but also how amazing she is as person."
Abby
Abby is a student at UHI NWH and is President of the Wild Swimming Club in Fort William.
"As a woman, sport has been a transformative force in my life mentally, physically and socially. It has helped me to develop resilience, confidence and many other skills which have been invaluable across all areas of my life. I enjoy partaking in a range of sports from weightlifting to swimming to paddle sports to hill walking and so on. Though many of these sports are currently male dominated which can be intimidating I believe it is incredibly important and empowering to challenge any gender stereotypes and not let them be a hinderance as women can absolutely excel in any field."
Laura
Laura is a student at UHI Perth and an elite Curler. She was UHI Sportsperson of the Year 2023 and Perth and Kinross Sports Personality of the Year 2023.
"I’m proud to be a woman in elite sport to show younger girls that they can achieve their sporting goals with hard work and dedication. Girls should feel that no goal is out of reach and that they can voice that without judgment.
One of the best parts about curling is its inclusivity. Women can play against men, and we can adapt the game to play against and with wheelchair users. Curling is a really social sport, so being treated equally and playing against anyone is an important and unique part of the sport.
I think having female role models is so important. I have looked up to several strong and successful women who have shown me that it is possible to achieve your goals. Hopefully I can be that for someone else one day."
Ava
Ava is a student at UHI Inverness and President of the UHI Olympic Weightlifting Club.
"Challenging the stereotypes of women in sport, particularly weightlifting is so rewarding, and I have met so many amazing strong women through the sport. Taking part in sport has helped me find my confidence and purpose in life, the opportunities I have been given make me motivated to encourage more women and girls to venture into a sport."
Zara
Zara is a student at UHI Orkney and plays netball in the Women's Superleague for Strathclyde Sirens.
"I'm proud to be a female in sport because it allows me to push boundaries and show that women can compete and succeed at the highest level.
I enjoy Netball because it is a fast-paced game requiring skill and quick thinking. I would say I'm a competitive person, so I enjoy that aspect of the game. The social side of the sport is also something I enjoy and have made so many friends over the years from training in Orkney and playing in the Scotland U17, 21 and senior age group levels south. I enjoy performing under pressure so playing a shooter position means I get to experience pressurised situations quite a lot. The life skills that I've gained from netball has been huge such as the confidence and self independence I've gained from travelling away regularly by myself since I was 16, being disciplined and having a strong work ethic are also skills I've developed over the years by playing Netball.
If I had to pick a role model it would probably be the current New Zealand National player Ameliaranne Ekenasio as her journey to playing for New Zealand is quite inspiring and she's worked hard to get to where she is. Watching her play in the 2019 World Cup in Liverpool and how composed and well she led the team was also quite inspiring to see in person."
Heather
Heather is a student at UHI Perth studying an MBA. She rows and coaches for Tay Rowing Club.
"I’ve always felt that being a woman in sport is about more than just competing – it’s about breaking barriers, building strength, and empowering others. As a rower and coach, I love how rowing fosters both teamwork and discipline. It’s a sport that pushes both mental and physical limits, and the thrill of being on the water with my crew is unmatched. Growing up, my role models were athletes like Katherine Grainger and Heather Stanning – their dedication and passion for rowing showed me what’s possible with hard work and belief. I’m proud to be part of a community that champions women in sport and can’t wait to see even more women and girls take up the oars and get involved! Let’s continue to support, celebrate, and inspire women in all sports!"