University of Dundee student athlete selected for Winning Students 100 programme

Winning Students 100 is Scotland’s leading dual-career programme, supporting 100 of the nation’s most talented student athletes in Higher and Further Education each year. Now in its 16th year, the initiative has helped over 1,700 student athletes reach the highest levels of their sport while pursuing academic qualifications and building successful career pathways. The programme provides vital resources such as academic flexibility, enabling athletes to balance elite training, international competition, and academic demands.

With a record number of applications this year, the 2025/26 cohort welcomes 106 exceptional student athletes from 18 institutions across 31 sports, and we’re thrilled that Alex Mackay, from the University of Dundee Weightlifting Club, is among them.

Alex has been named the University’s Sportswoman of the Year for the past two years. Having only taken up weightlifting during her time at university nearly five years ago, she has made remarkable progress. Now a member of the Scotland Commonwealth Games training squad, Alex is a strong contender for selection for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

She recently returned from the World Championships in Norway where she represented Scotland in the Women’s 48kg class. This event marked the first of two qualifying competitions for the Commonwealth Games, and Alex made a strong start to the qualification period, achieving personal bests in both the Clean and Jerk and her Total.

Reflecting on the experience and the year ahead, Alex said, “This was my first World Championships, and it was an incredible experience. The atmosphere at the competition was amazing and I had so much fun out there on the platform. The second and final qualifying event is in Georgia next April, and I’m looking forward to continuing to build in my training over the next few months in order to deliver the best performance I can for Commonwealth Games selection.

Kelly Moonlight, Sport Development Manager, added, “I see Alex within Sport and Active Health regularly, and her commitment to both the sport and her degree is truly commendable. Alex is a great example of what can be achieved through dedication and hard work, and it’s made more special that she was introduced to the sport here on campus. I want to extend my thanks to Winning Students 100, The Scottish Funding Council and Sportscotland for their continued and vital support.”

Image of Alex in action captured by to-thebar.com.