Eilidh Gibson

In 2018, Eilidh was preparing to compete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, but the canoe slalom athlete suffered a shoulder injury that shattered her chances of appearing at the games. Eilidh was understandably devastated, but rather than let the energy and drive she had been building up go to waste, she decided to channel her passion for her sport into developing an initiative to inspire others.

Eilidh established Slalom Inspires, a non-profit organisation run by volunteers that aims to inspire and empower girls into the sport of canoe slalom through creating opportunities for them that they may not otherwise have.

Eilidh is a two-time Senior Scottish Champion and was inducted into the University of Edinburgh Sporting Hall of Fame in 2018.

“My time studying Biomedical Sciences (pPhysiology) played a huge part in influencing both my academic and sporting journey. The experience shaped me not just as an athlete, but as a person. It taught me how to think critically, gave me friendships that have lasted far beyond my time at university, and the years of balancing elite sport and being a full-time student demanded determination and resilience, both of which have made me a better person.”