Team Scotland continues its countdown to Birmingham 2022 by announcing five selections in para-athletics with double Paralympic medallist Sammi Kinghorn MBE celebrating selection for her third Commonwealth Games.

Double world champion Kinghorn, from Melrose, who won silver over 400m and bronze over 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, will race the T54 1500m in Birmingham for a third consecutive Games, and is hoping to win her first Commonwealth medal after a fifth place at Glasgow 2014 and fourth in Gold Coast.

Sammi is joined by fellow Tokyo Paralympian Melanie Woods, marathon athlete Sean Frame and sprinters Ross Paterson and Alexander Thomson, with all four making their Team Scotland debuts.

Melanie, from Glasgow, goes alongside Sammi in the T54 1500m, having raced to fifth place in Tokyo in the 800m, while Sean – the Glaswegian who won the wheelchair race at the 2021 Great North Run – goes the full distance in the T54 Marathon in Birmingham. Ross, from Paisley, and Alexander, from Hamilton, who are both European medallists over 400m, will go head-to-head in the T38 100m.

Talking about her selection, Sammi said “I’m very excited as it is going to my third Commonwealth Games. I was fifth in Glasgow and fourth in Gold Coast, so obviously my aim is to try and make it on the podium. It’s not my event as it’s the 1,500m but I’m feeling a lot stronger and a bit more tactically aware.

“I’m really looking forward to it and I’m incredibly lucky to have a Games in Britain where friends and family can come along and cheer me on. It’s going to be incredible.”

Team Scotland’s Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss said: “It’s brilliant to welcome Sammi back for a third Games and to see Melanie, Sean, Ross and Alexander being selected for their first on the back of impressive results over the selection period.

“With under 50 days to go, Team Scotland is really taking shape and I’m looking forward to
seeing them compete in front of a strong Scottish support in Birmingham.”

Team Scotland Athletics Team Manager Julie Mollison said: “We’re delighted five athletes have been selected by Team Scotland to compete in Birmingham and send our congratulations to them, their families, their coaches and their clubs and support teams. With the Games being in the UK, it is very exciting for everyone around these athletes as there is a chance to travel to Birmingham to cheer them on.

“The overall selection reflects progress by these athletes as individuals and arguably also more opportunities and more integration by our clubs to create the right pathway for para athletes.”

Athletes selected:
Sean Frame
Sammi Kinghorn MBE
Ross Paterson
Alexander Thomson
Melanie Woods

The athletics competition takes place at the re-developed Alexander Stadium in Birmingham from 2nd to 6th August. The marathon takes place on 30 July, starting in Smithfield and finishing in Victoria Square in Birmingham.