We continue to showcase the ambitious students pursuing their athletic and academic goals at universities in the UK in 2024.
UK university swimming programs are renowned globally, attracting athletes from every corner of the world. Their exceptional facilities, top-tier coaching, and high level of competition create an unparalleled environment for swimmers aiming to enhance their performance while pursuing their academic goals.
Renowned for its exceptional swimming program, the University of Stirling has been instrumental in shaping the careers of several Olympic and World Champions. This year, the Scottish university will be welcoming a new talent to its program – Kimberly Brudenall.
An accomplished swimmer from Malaysia with a track record of success at both state and national levels, Kimberly will be joining one of the UK’s top swimming teams to advance her competitive swimming career and work towards her Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Kimberly to learn more about her choice to study in the UK, her journey as a competitive swimmer, and her goals as a student-athlete at Stirling.
Meet Kimberly
Studied at the The International School @ ParkCity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Represented her State and Country in a number of national swimming federation competitions including BISP (British International School Phuket) and FOBISIA (Federation Of British International Schools In Asia).
Will be joining one of the UK’s top university swimming programs and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Science.
Could you talk us through your decision to attend the University of Stirling?
“I was originally considering countries like Australia and America, however the support I got for applying to the UK was incredibly helpful. The UK feels more like home, and it has everything I was looking for in terms of courses and sports.
Before deciding on Stirling, I considered things like safety, the support, and the facilities that were going to be available to me in regards to swimming and my education. The global success of the swimmers at the university in recent years was also a big factor as I could plan to see what I could progress to be.”
From competing in high school to now representing her state and country in various national competitions, Kimberly has been swimming competitively in her home nation of Malaysia for over a decade, excelling in a range of disciplines and distances.
How do you think being located at a UK university will help you improve as a student-athlete?
“The universities in the UK have a large network of support for academics, as well as world class facilities for sport and with Stirling. Having all these things located on campus will help me reach my maximum potential in both swimming and academics.
I do hope to represent my country in more international events and even possibly get to compete in events like the Commonwealth or South East Asian Games, and I think the University of Stirling is the perfect place to pursue my ambitions.”
Kimberly has competed at various competitions and Championships over the years, most recently experiencing success at the 2024 MSSM (Malaysian School Sports Council) Championships. The talented swimmer has also appeared in many other national competitions including the Malaysia Open Championships and the SEA OWS (Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming) Championships.
Can you describe your experience of working with The Student Sport Company to pursue your studies in the UK?
“The Student Sport Company helped me tremendously in identifying the right school for me and applying to the university itself. The process of applying has been a breeze as the team was always in contact with me and the university.
Being able to talk to performance sport staff first-hand had a large impact on which university I chose, and I’m very thankful I was able to get in touch with them.”
With aspirations to continue representing Malaysia and compete in the Southeast Asian Games, Kimberly will be training and competing in the University of Stirling’s impressive pool, surrounded by top-tier athletes and coaches. She will be joining a prestigious swimming program known for producing Olympic athletes like Katie Shanahan and Duncan Scott, aiming to follow in their footsteps and achieve her own success.
What are you most looking forward to ahead of your first year in the UK?
“I’m really looking forward to making new friends and experiencing a whole new environment.
The chance to be more independent and explore all the excellent facilities at Stirling that will be available to me is something I’m really excited about too.”
Interested in continuing your sporting career and education at a UK University? We can help!
We proudly work with the leading sporting and academic institutions throughout the U.K. and are able to offer international students of all ages and levels of study the opportunity to combine their preferred academic qualifications with their sporting ambitions.
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