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An award-winning wheelchair athlete from Abertay University has vowed to “help shape the future of sport in Scotland” for women, after joining an important advisory board.
Gemma Lumsdaine has been selected to work with the Minister for Public Health and Sport, Aileen Campbell on the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board, helping to develop strategies to overcome the key barriers women face within the sector.
Issues on the agenda include participation, media coverage and analysis of the perception that women and girls have of themselves.
The move comes amid the first-ever Women and Girls in Sport Week in Scotland, which runs from October 1 to 8.
Gemma, who plays wheelchair basketball and rugby, has won a number of awards both locally and nationally including Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Best in Class 2016 and the Angus sports personality of the year for people with a disability 2017.
She now coaches wheelchair basketball for Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club and is an assistant coach for Scotland U19s.
Gemma has recently been asked to trial for Great Britain in wheelchair rugby and hopes to combine her sporting career with her studies at Abertay, where she is in the first year of a Sport and Exercise degree.
“I am incredibly honoured to have been appointed to the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board,” the 20-year-old said.
“Being on this board is a fantastic opportunity for me to work alongside successful, influential and inspiring women who are involved with sport.
“I can’t wait to help to shape the future of sport within Scotland and hopefully make a difference to females’ lives across the country.”
For more information on studying sport at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/sport-and-exercise-sciences/