Claire Thomson

The Glasgow Guardian • 15 February 2024

BUCS Nationals 2024: Glasgow University’s ‘Ones to Watch’

The spotlight will soon be on Sheffield for the 2024 BUCS Nationals (23-25 February), the largest annual multi-sport event in the UK. With six sports and over 4,000 students taking part, The Glasgow Guardian spoke to some of the student-athletes hoping for success.

After unexpectedly qualifying for and competing against the fastest swimmers in the UK at the 2023 British Swimming Championships, fourth-year veterinary medicine student and current men’s swim captain Finlay Strachan has a clear vis

The Glasgow Guardian • 13 February 2024

‘It has very much been a team effort’: In conversation with GUSWPC

A successful inaugural varsity match for Glasgow University’s water polo team as the team focuses on the development of the sport at university level and inclusivity within the club.

Varsity competitions hold a prominent space in university sporting calendars across the UK, with rival universities competing in a variety of sports in the hope of winning the title and earning bragging rights for the next year. Amid all the discussion around the upcoming rugby varsity match (Glasgow v Strathclyde)

The Glasgow Guardian • 11 January 2024

The world of sport in 2023

In a year full of historic events and incredible achievements, the world of sport provided twists and turns in 2023 as athletes put on their best performances in preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games this year.

The Australian Open kicked the year off in January as Novak Djokovic claimed the men’s singles title, his tenth Australian Open title and 22nd major title overall, equalling Rafael Nadal’s all-time record. Djokovic was allowed to play this year despite remaining unvaccinated from Co

The Glasgow Guardian • 11 January 2024

Take your marks, GO! 5 sporting events not to miss in 2024

A new year provides the new prospect of outstanding sporting moments as we look forward to 2024.

Athletes across the globe celebrated 1 January 2024 as the beginning of the Olympic year, a spectacle that only graces the world of sport every four years. However, for students, professional athletes and the general public alike, a new year provides a new opportunity for sporting excellence in every capacity, whether that is watching sporting events, trying a new sport, being more active, or graspi

The Glasgow Guardian • 26 November 2023

‘When we win, we drink; when we lose, we drink - it doesn’t matter’: The relationship between student sport and alcohol

The Glasgow Guardian speaks to student sportspeople about binge drinking, the pressures around sport social events and the impact of alcohol on mental health and academics


Binge drinking is commonplace in university sports. Studies have reported that students involved in university sport, even those who take part in organised recreational sport, drink excessively and drink more than students who do not participate in university sport at all. Even if the frequency at which students involved in

The Glasgow Guardian • 23 November 2023

A feminist formulae?: what "Girl Math" really means

Maths, once arguably the most feared subject, is now…fun? What does this shift say about our relationship with maths- and is it for the better?

Numbers are one of the most important aspects of day-to-day life, from budgets and bills, to schedules and daily decisions, basic numeracy and mathematics are vital skills. Yet, for many, the mere mention of the “M” word, never mind what is under the umbrella of the term, elicits memories that would rather be forgotten. With maths teachers for parents,

The Glasgow Guardian • 7 September 2023

Pedalling towards sustainability: The impacts of the UCI Cycling World Championships on Glasgow

Was the UCI Cycling World Championships hypocritical; or rather something Glasgow, and Scotland generally, should grasp with two hands?

Glasgow is renowned for hosting large-scale, highly successful and atmospheric sporting events, with this summer being no exception. As the world of cycling descended on Scotland’s largest city for 11 days of exhilarating competition, Glasgow rose to the occasion, taking advantage of this opportunity to promote sustainable transport and greener energy as well a

The Glasgow Guardian • 7 September 2023

Is GUSA failing club sport?

The Glasgow University Tigers tell us they experienced a disappointing lack of support from GUSA and UofG Sport last season.

For several years, traditional American sports have become more and more popular across Scotland and the UK, especially at university level, given the increase in the number of international students and exposure to these sports in Europe. American football is no different, as the Glasgow University Tigers prepare for a new season, despite suffering from a major letdown b

Empoword Journalism • 25 June 2023

Artistic Swimming: Behind the Scenes of a Mesmerising Water Ballet

When it comes to mesmerising performances that combine grace, athleticism, and artistic expression, few sports can rival the breathtaking allure of artistic swimming.

Formerly known as synchronised swimming, this discipline has transformed over the years into a unique and awe-inspiring spectacle that captivates audiences worldwide. Behind the scenes of this aquatic ballet lies a world of dedication, precision, and unconventional beauty.

Artistic swimming is not your typical sport. It defies co

Empoword Journalism • 24 June 2023

HOW IS THE DIGITAL AGE IS CHANGING SPORT FANDOM?

Digital technology has revolutionised nearly every aspect of our lives, and sports fandom is no exception. Gone are the days when fans had to rely solely on television broadcasts, newspapers, or radio to follow their favourite teams and athletes.

Today, with the wide selection of various digital platforms and devices, sports fans have unparalleled access to information, real-time updates, and interactive experiences that have transformed the very nature of fan culture.

One of the most signific

Empoword Journalism • 16 June 2023

The Tour de France: A Journey Beyond Bicycles

As the world’s most prestigious cycling race, the Tour de France is renowned for its captivating mix of athletic prowess, stunning landscapes, and fierce competition. However, beyond the spectacle of riders pedalling through picturesque routes, the competition represents an unparalleled journey of human resilience, determination, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

While the Tour de France is undoubtedly a bicycle race, its significance extends far beyond the realm of two-wheeled vehicles.

Empoword Journalism • 16 June 2023

Miyu Kato's Disqualification Raises Doubts Over Sportsmanship

The French Open, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world, has been engulfed in controversy following the disqualification of No. 16 seeds Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi from the tournament.

Japan’s Miyu Kato was alleged to have hit a ball girl in the face during the third-round match, leading to intense debates regarding the reactions of her opponents and the officials involved.

Having lost the opening set to Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republ

Empoword Journalism • 4 June 2023

NBA Players Making a Difference Beyond the Court

Professional athletes, especially those in the National Basketball Association (NBA) possess a unique platform and influence that extends far beyond their performances on the court. Many NBA players have embraced their roles as community ambassadors, leveraging their fame, wealth, and resources to effect positive change in society.

From philanthropy to activism, these players are using their voices to tackle social issues, promote education, support local economies, and inspire the next generat

Empoword Journalism • 4 June 2023

The Rivalry That Defined an Era

In the realm of tennis, there have been numerous rivalries that have captivated audiences and left an indelible mark on the sport’s history. But perhaps none have been as intense, as enduring, and as defining as the rivalry between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. These three tennis icons, often referred to as the “Big Three,” have battled against each other for more than a decade, shaping and reshaping the landscape of men’s tennis in the process.

The rivalry began to take shap

The Glasgow Guardian • 22 February 2023

Scottish Swimming launches #SaveOurPools campaign

According to a recent poll conducted on behalf of Scottish Swimming, 94% of Scots agree that swimming pools are necessary for safety by teaching people to swim with 88%also believing that swimming pools are vital for communities. Yet the recent UK government decision to exclude community leisure from the Energy Bills Discount Scheme investment announced on Monday 9 January places swimming pools under threat.

Swimming pools often lie at the heart of communities, supporting upwards of 1200 aquati

The Glasgow Guardian • 20 February 2023

Sports Documentaries: why do we love them?

Over the past decade, sports documentaries have been on the rise, but following the Covid-19 pandemic, this increase intensified as live sports struggled and fans were starved of ways to connect with their favourite teams and stars. Sports lends itself to great storytelling in a unique way through nail-biting close calls, internal politics, and high-stakes results. Sports are an area where we can witness people achieve (and lose) incredible things. It’s awe-inspiring and gripping. The success of

Glasgow University Magazine • 30 January 2023

Will We Get To The Year 3000?

While Busted and Jonas Brothers claimed ‘I’ve been to the year 3000/ Not much has changed but they lived underwater’, recently experts have begun to disagree with the noughties boy bands. Inspired by a poll that found the typical American uses the internet for seven hours a day, and shedding some light on what humans could be believed to look like due to an unhealthy reliance on technology, researchers have developed a terrifying model called ‘Mindy’ that replicates what humans may look like in

The Glasgow Guardian • 8 January 2023

UofG student helping to pave the way for men’s netball breakthrough in Scotland

The tables have turned. Netball is now experiencing a change towards gender equality as the first men-only club in Scotland is helping to alter perceptions about who can play the game. The sport, which was once limited to young women ranging in age from school girls through to pre-married women and described as “a national game for women” by the media in New Zealand in 1929, is now enjoying record levels of participation amongst men and boys across the UK.

The history of men's netball is closel

The Glasgow Guardian • 8 January 2023

parkrunlife: get some exercise

2023 will mark the 15th-year anniversary of parkrun in Scotland. Founded in 2004 by Paul Sinton-Hewitt MBE at Bushy Park in London, parkrun has now expanded to more than 2,000 locations in 23 countries across six continents - 65 and counting in Scotland. The five-kilometre events for walkers, runners and volunteers take place every Saturday morning and offer new opportunities and challenges for participants as well as the chance for people to take part in free, inclusive, regular physical exerci

The Glasgow Guardian • 8 January 2023

Things we’re leaving in 2022… The culture of silence surrounding female athlete health

2022 has been the year for female sport, yet until very recently menstruation remained a taboo subject and research on the science of sport is still heavily skewed towards male athletes, with the imbalance leaving large gaps in knowledge about female sports and sports-related injuries. In 2016, Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui missed out on the Olympic podium as she held onto her stomach following her race as she said: “I feel I didn’t swim well today. I let my teammates down. My period came last nigh

Glasgow University Magazine • 5 January 2023

The Pursuit of Health in the Face of Diet Culture

‘Diet starts tomorrow!’ We’ve all heard it at some point and maybe even said it ourselves, but how many of us have actually followed it through? Diet culture can be dated back to the early 1900s, when the denotation of the term ‘diet’ came to mean a restricted food intake to lose weight to change the physical physique. However, despite this, the first ideas of what was deemed to be ‘fit’ and ‘healthy’ can be traced back even further to the ancient Greeks, who believed that having a healthy body

The Glasgow Guardian • 22 November 2022

Reminiscent of BUCS: A highlight in the swimming calendar

There are two momentous occasions in the university swimming calendar every year. The first being the Tech match (Glasgow University v Strathclyde) - a head-to-head battle between two, arguably evenly matched, Glasgow teams, with neither side willing to relinquish their pride nor the status of being the top university swim team in the city. After a point-for-point match, a few weeks ago in the Stevenson Building, laced with controversy, GU took the victory after much deliberation over a relay ta

The Glasgow Guardian • 22 November 2022

Sport for everyone and anyone

Where sport can be perceived as a scary and unwelcoming environment, there are students at the University of Glasgow with the goal of changing these stereotypes and perceptions. Former GUSA LGBTQ+ role model, Jon Dixon, worked with the association to help lower and break down barriers surrounding homophobia in sport, that are preventing LGBTQIA+ students from getting involved in sport through GUSA and UofG. He wants to encourage as many people as possible to be physically active and prove that t

The Glasgow Guardian • 22 November 2022

UofG Sport and GUSA launch initiatives in fight for inclusion and support

The battle for equality and inclusion in sport and exercise is still ongoing at all levels, with the University of Glasgow Sport and Glasgow University Sports Association (GUSA) actively introducing initiatives to make members feel more comfortable when participating in sport and exercise.

Following complaints from users in its facilities, UofG Sport issued a statement of concern about the safety and welfare of users, stating that unwanted attention and inappropriate behaviour “cannot and will