Celebrating our alumni - Women in Sport Week 2024

As part of Women in Sport Week, we're celebrating the efforts of our sporting alumni, who have achieved significant success in their sports careers with the help of their exceptional skills and unwavering determination.?

Drawing upon the lessons of teamwork, perseverance, and leadership learned as student-athletes, Vicky Carson and Hannah Lithgow are now celebrated names in their field.?

Find out more about Vicky and Hannah's stories below and learn more about 英国赫瑞瓦特大学 's BSc (Hons) Sport and Science Science, MSc International Sports Management and MSc Sports Psychology courses.

Vicky Carson

Vicky Carson is one of our celebrated alumni students, having graduated in Biological Sciences?at our Edinburgh campus. Her impressive sporting experiences include playing in the world championship in ball hockey, as well as being part of the first-ever GB women’s team in bandy, a sport that is a cross between ice hockey, field hockey and?football, on ice.

Find out more about Vicky’s involvement with sports from a young age and her advice for succeeding in the industry.

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When did you first get involved with sports?

I have always been interested in sports. Throughout primary school I played football and netball, and was always running around. At secondary school, I became more interested in other sports like hockey and rugby. When I was 13 years old, I saw ice hockey for the first time. In the first couple minutes of watching my first game, I was determined that ice hockey was going to be my sport.

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What inspired you to pursue a career in sports, and who were your role models?

The first ever game of ice hockey I watched was a GB U18s women’s game at Dumfries Ice Bowl. Before this, I had never heard much about ice hockey or even skated before, so it was inspiring to see so many talented women take to the ice.

Beth Dias-Scoon was one of the players that day, the only Scottish girl on the team. The closest elite level team to Scotland back then was Hull, so Beth and her family would travel there almost every weekend just so she could play hockey at the highest level possible. Beth has inspired me throughout my sporting career, from being someone I looked up to and aspired to be like the first time I watched hockey, to being my coach and now a friend and a teammate, who I learn so much from.

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How do you feel that sport has influenced your personal growth and development?

My favourite thing about sport is its ability to inspire and bring people together. I started my hockey journey at 13 and many of the people who taught me to skate and play have watched me grow into the person I am today. Playing a team sport has helped me develop many skills that I use in my personal and professional life, including my confidence levels and strong leadership skills.

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Has sport helped you overcome any challenges or adversity?

Absolutely, sport has played a significant role in helping me overcome challenges. Playing hockey became a critical outlet for me. Not only did the physical activity help reduce stress, but it also gave me a sense of routine and an opportunity to make friends. Through the ups and downs of training and competition, I learned to push through setbacks and keep a positive mindset. This resilience transferred into other aspects of my life, and I relied on those experiences of discipline and determination throughout my time at university, and in my day-to-day life.

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What advice would you give to students interested in recreational or competitive sports?

Absolutely go for it. Even if you’ve never played a sport before, just give it a try. Joining the netball team at Heriot-Watt was the best decision I made at University, I had so much fun and made some great friends. It’s a great way to stay healthy and meet people at the same time. Heriot-Watt has a great range of sports to try, there is something there for everyone, so pick your sport and get yourself along!

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What advice would you give to students who are aspiring to succeed in the sports industry?

Set yourself small achievable goals to complete over a set period and don’t give up. The first time I trialled for the GB Students ice hockey team, I was unsuccessful, but I went away and made it my goal to be selected the next year. The feeling of achievement was so great, and all the hard work paid off in the end. Don’t let small bumps in the road set you off your route, find ways to get around them and keep going!

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How has your Heriot-Watt education contributed to your success?

My education at Heriot-Watt has shaped me a lot, balancing studying and training was made possible by the Sports Scholar Programme, where I was supported in training and my studies. I learnt so many things both academically and personally during my time at University that has helped contribute to my personal and sporting success.

Hannah Lithgow

Hannah Lithgow graduated from our University in 2013 in Sport and Exercise Science. Now working at Heriot-Watt as an Assistant Professor in Exercise Physiology and as a sports scientist, Hannah has made a name for herself in the sports industry.

Find out more about Hannah’s journey to success and how sport has empowered her to achieve her goals.

When did you first get involved with sports?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an interest in sport. I would watch football and rugby with my dad growing up and started kicking a football about the garden when I was small. However, there was no youth football for girls where I lived, and there wasn’t a girl’s football club at high school until we asked our P.E. teacher if we could start a club.?

I remember our head teacher giving an inspirational talk in assembly about the Olympics in 2004, saying that not everyone had to be elite level but anyone could enjoy athletics. So that’s when I started running, and with the support of my primary school substitute teacher, I developed into a cross-country champion within a couple of years, progressing to 10k and half-marathon distance. I think since high school I have tried almost every sport out there!

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What inspired you to pursue a career in sports academia?

I actually went to University to study Occupational Therapy. After the first year I decided it wasn’t for me and I would transfer to another subject. I sought advice from my high school teachers, and they said I should do sport and exercise science. I had a couple of passionate lecturers at Heriot-Watt University, who challenged me and always forced me to ask questions or be curious about a subject. During my honours year project, having enjoyed it so much, I decided I wanted to pursue a career in research.

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How do you feel that sport has influenced your personal growth and development?

I’ve participated in many different sports that have influenced my personal growth and development. I think being part of the Heriot-Watt football club was the most memorable part of my degree. I learned to be part of a team and was a core part of a support network, with role models above me but also providing mentorship to younger players.

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Has sport helped you overcome any challenges or adversity?

Seeing the progression in female sport over the years has been amazing and powerful. I was told many times as a kid that football was for boys and running was only for athletes. With small changes and progression, like our P.E. teacher starting a girls football club, we seem to be creating opportunities for young females that weren’t there before.

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Can you share a memorable experience where sport has empowered you or others around you?

Earlier this year I was invited back to my high school to give a talk to the girl’s football and netball teams about my career in sport. I was presenting to a room full of young girls who had opportunities I never had, who had proper coaches for their chosen sport, who got to compete against other girls at other schools, who also have established teams. It was empowering to see how female sport has progressed in my own hometown and how it owns a space in the community.

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What advice would you give to students interested in recreational or competitive sports?

I would relay the advice from my head teacher that anyone can enjoy sport, you don’t have to be the best, you just have to be the best version of yourself. There is no boundary to trying a new sport or activity. Give it a shot and see if you enjoy it. Or see if you enjoy the social circle and support network.

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What advice would you give to students who are aspiring to succeed in the sports industry?

Seek out opportunities. Sport often works in the ‘it’s who you know’ way. But that doesn’t mean you cannot make yourself known. All it can take is an email to a club manager asking to shadow their sport scientist or turning up to a game and chatting to the assistant coach to see if there is an opportunity to watch them coach a session. They see you’re passionate and forthcoming, they see you’re interested and curious, they have a job coming up and you’re the one they will contact. Mostly we want to work with people we can trust – trust in their knowledge and competency but also trust they will support you and show up when needed.