First GB call-up for Fife swimmer -p 49

Cu par woman off to University Games

A young Fife swimmer is among a 16-strong GB team selected for the World University Games in Chinese Taipei in August.

Kirsty Simpson, 21, joins the likes of World University Games champion Jay Lelliott, who won gold in 400m freestyle and silver in the 800m freestyle in Gwangju in 2015, in the strong British squad.

The team hailing from 10 institutions were selected following the British Swimming Championships in Sheffield last month – where seven of them medalled in senior finals.

Kirsty, from Cupar, is in her third year studying for a BA in law and management at Robert Gordon University while training with the Aberdeen University’s performance swim team under the guidance of coach Patrick Miley.

The Fifer began competitive swimming at the age of 10 where she initially trained with Cupar, Step Rock, Dundee and latterly Carnegie before moving to the City of Aberdeen Swim Team – now merged into Aberdeen University Swim Team – when she started university.

Backstroke specialist Kirsty has held a number of Scottish records and is a member of the Scottish Senior Silver Squad.

In addition to being selected for a warm weather camp in Perth, Australia, as part of the preparation for the Commonwealth Games, she also represented Scotland last year in Indianapolis.

The university games, however, will be Kirsty’s first cap for Team GB.

Getty. Kirsty Simpson began competitive swimming at age 10.