Ross Murdoch joins Duncan Scott in Team GB squad for Tokyo

Scottish swimmer Ross Murdoch has been named in the Team GB squad for the Tokyo Olympics.

The 27-year-old, who won gold at the Commonwealth games in 2014, joins countryman Duncan Scott for this summer’s games.

Kathleen Dawson, Cassie Wild and Aimee Willmott, all from Stirling Uni’s swimming team, make up the Scottish contingent.

Team GB have been tipped to provide “some special moments in the pool” at the rearranged Olympics as ex-world champion Ben Proud and two-time Rio 2016 silver medallist James Guy were also among the 24 swimmers added to their squad.

The updated squad was announced at Stirling University on Tuesday.

Duncan Scott, whose time trial result broke the all time British record, says the Olympics will be the pinnacle of his career.

He said: “The Olympic Gold Medal is the pinnacle of our sport, and for me that’s what the Olympic Games should be for any sport that is in there, so it is really special.”

Cassie Wild and Kathleen Dawson have made the squad for the first time and have welcomed a rise in female representation in the sport.

Wild said: “It is amazing to have three girls from Stirling, that is predominantly a male programme.”

And Dawson said: “We have some big hitters, It’s great to have all these Scottish athletes that are up in the world class stage.”

The latest batch of entrants join Scott, who secured his spot at the start of the year along with Adam Peaty, James Wilby and Luke Greenbank.

Molly Renshaw – who broke the British record for the 200 metres breaststroke at the selection trials earlier this month, setting a world-leading time in the discipline in the process – is also set to travel to Tokyo this summer.

While Britain’s swimmers collected six medals in Brazil five years ago, when Peaty memorably clinched gold by breaking his own world record in the 100m breaststroke, Team GB chef de mission Mark England is bullish of bettering that haul in Japan.

“The team has a blend of Olympic medallists from Rio, it obviously has Olympic champions. It has members of the team who have some of the world’s fastest times in 2021,” he said.

“I’d be pretty confident that we are selecting the strongest swim team that has ever represented Team GB at an Olympic Games. We’ll see some special, special moments in the pool in Tokyo.”

Up to seven more swimmers may be added to the team in June based on performances at the European Championships and other identified meets, with a primary focus on bolstering the potential for relay medals.

The final qualifying event for the marathon swim will take place from 19-20 June in Setubal, Portugal.