Two past University of Stirling tennis scholars have been confirmed as part of Team GB for the Olympic Games in Rio, alongside former golf scholar and graduate, Catriona Matthew.

Colin Fleming – who played on Stirling’s world-renowned performance programme at the Scottish National Tennis Centre from 2001 to 2007 - will represent Great Britain in the doubles.

Colin is now one of three Scots playing doubles at the Olympics, taking up ranks alongside Andy and Jamie Murray.

While recent Wimbledon and Australian Open wheelchair men’s champion and Stirling psychology graduate Gordon Reid, who still trains at the renowned facilities on campus, joins the Paralympic team.

Catriona Matthew, one of the first students to join the University’s golf scholarship programme, will also travel to Brazil next month as golf returns to the Olympic Games after a 112-year absence. The Scots star attained a BA and an MA from Stirling before starting her professional career.

The athletes join Stirling’s world-class swimmers, also selected to represent Team GB at Rio. Ross Murdoch, Robbie Renwick, Craig Benson and Duncan Scott will compete and the team’s Head Performance Coach, Ben Higson, is part of the British Swimming coaching staff.

As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, Stirling currently supports 88 scholar-athletes, enabling students to balance training and competition at the highest level with study for a University degree.

Cathy Gallagher, director of sport at the university, said: “Sport is a part of Stirling’s DNA.

"We pride ourselves in helping to produce the best athletes to compete at the very highest level and no sporting feat is greater than the Olympics. To have seven current or former University of Stirling athletes travelling to Rio, alongside a coaching presence, is testament to the talent of these sports stars, as well as the hard work and support they have received up to now.”

The Olympic tennis event will be played on hard court, with the event draws made on August 4. The swimming gets under way on August 6 at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in the heart of Rio while the women’s golf tees off on August 17, with the men up first on August 11.