In 2025, three elite athletes cemented themselves in the history of the University of Edinburgh by being inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for their drive, commitment, and immense talents. Who are these Edinburgh molded athletes?
Oliver Wilkes didn’t row until he started his undergraduate degree at the University of Liverpool. He kept rowing despite a move to the University of Edinburgh for his master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Systems, from which he graduated in 2018. As part of Edinburgh’s Performance Rowing programme, he gained the skills and confidence required to earn him a spot on the GB Olympic rowing team as a non-travelling reserve for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“Oliver Wilkes Paris Olympics” by National Lottery Good Causes is licensed under CC BY 3.0.
No path to success comes without its challenges, however, and Wilkes faced his first major setback when he contracted Covid-19 in 2022 and was forced to sit out of the World Rowing Cup I (WRC) in Belgrade, Serbia. In addition to watching his teammates grab gold, Wilkes was finally able to contribute to a gold medal himself the following 2023 WRC. Finally, in 2024, he claimed the bronze medal in the men’s coxless four event at the Paris Olympics, strengthening his competitive reputation in the rowing world.
The next 2025 inductee is none other than Aleksandra Kałucka — the Polish speed climber and world champion. In 2022, Kałucka took part in the IFSC Climbing European championships and clinched a silver medal in the women’s speed event. She continued to deliver that year, as she competed in the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Edinburgh, narrowly winning the gold medal in an intense final against her own sister.
“Aleksandra Kałucka (POL) 2018” by Simon Legner (User:simon04) is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
After visiting Scotland’s capital, Kałucka decided to pursue an MSc in Applied Mathematics at the University, and is still a student in Edinburgh. In 2024, she competed in the Olympics for the first time as speed climbing made its olympic debut, where she won a bronze medal for Poland. A student-athlete, she is currently preparing for the 2028 LA Olympics.
Finally, British Paralympic swimmer Stephen Clegg marks the final name inducted into the University of Edinburgh’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2025. Since 2019, Clegg has been a part of the University’s Performance Swimming programme and has won a striking 17 medals across World, European, Commonwealth, and Paralympic championships. Having been diagnosed with Stargardt Macular Dystrophy at a young age, he suffered severe vision loss but persevered to become one of swimming’s most consistent winners.
“Stephen Clegg at the 2024 Summer Paralympics (cropped)” by The National Paralympic Committee of Azerbaijan is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Clegg stepped onto the international podium for the first time in 2019, when he won silver for the S12 100m butterfly event for swimmers with significant visual impairment at the World Championships in London. He continued his streak of medals with one silver and two bronzes at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, and finally became an official world champion at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, grabbing two gold medals.
Clegg’s achievements are not limited to the world of competitive swimming. He is very vocal about making sport at any level more accessible to people with disabilities. In 2025, he was rewarded with an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his services to swimming.
Image by Mark Chan for The Student.