We are delighted that Dan has joined our BRIT Ambassador family.
Dan has represented Great Britain in the Olympic games and FINA World Championships, and Scotland in the Commonwealth Games.
“I am thrilled to join the BRIT Ambassador family and champion the BRIT 2021 Challenge in order to support and improve young adult mental health and fitness.
The BRIT 2021 Challenge is fantastic opportunity for every university, college and student union to enter teams and encourage their students and staff to take part.
As a former student, I can appreciate how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting on student life and I believe it has never been so important to help and support young adult mental health.
The BRIT 2021 Challenge has been designed with the flexibility to enable young adults of all abilities to participate on campus or at home and add their miles to their team’s 2,021 mile target.
BRIT Ambassadors are Olympians, Paralympians, sports personalities, adventurers and explorers who are uniting to support and improve young adult mental health. BRIT’s aspiration is for every UK university and college to have a BRIT Ambassador to inspire students and therefore I urge my fellow athletes throughout the UK to join me.
I look forward to encouraging students and staff at The University of Stirling and the University of Edinburgh to take on the BRIT 2021 Challenge and supporting their team’s efforts.”
Dan was born in Edinburgh and trained under head coach Laurel Bailey at Warrander Baths Club.
In 2011, he won a silver medal in the 200 metre individual medley and a bronze in the 400 metre individual medley at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
He accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida and between 2012 and 2015, Dan swam for the Florida Gators Swimming and Diving Team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the South Eastern Conference (SEC) competition. Whilst at the University of Florida he was the recipient of 12 All-American honours.
Competing for Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Dan won the gold medal in the men’s 400 metre individual medley. He also won a silver medals in the 200 metre individual medley and the 4 x 200 metre men’s freestyle relay.
Representing Great Britain at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, Dan won a gold medal in the men’s 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay.
In 2012, at the Rio Olympic Games, Dan was part of the team that brought home the silver medal in the 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay and set a national record in the process.
On the 11th April 2018, after winning two bronze medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Dan announced his retirement from swimming at the age of 24.
Dan founded The Swim Experience and is also supporting a new mental health charity called Support and Offload that is looking to combat mental health issues through sport and exercise.
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