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Winning Students 100 scholar Mark Stewart targets Glasgow 2026 after 12 years at the top

Scottish cycling star and Winning Students 100 scholar Mark Stewart knows exactly what it means to represent Scotland on the biggest stage.

From making his Commonwealth Games debut as a teenager in Glasgow in 2014 to becoming a Commonwealth champion and competing at the Olympic Games, Mark’s career has already spanned more than a decade at the top level of international cycling. 

Ahead of this summer’s Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, the University of Strathclyde student says the hunger that first drove him into elite sport remains as strong as ever.

Mark said: “This will be my fourth Commonwealth Games, which makes me feel old! But at the same time, I’m definitely not done yet. I still feel as hungry as ever. I’ve still got that youthful drive that 18-year-old Mark had, but now it comes with more maturity and wisdom.”

For Mark, the Commonwealth Games and representing Scotland hold a coveted place in the sporting calendar and in his own personal memories.

“There’s something really special about Team Scotland. The Commonwealth Games only come around once every four years and it becomes a reunion in many ways – athletes, coaches, staff, people you’ve grown up around in sport all coming back together. There’s a really special culture around it from both a performance and personal perspective.

“To be going back to Glasgow this summer feels full circle. That’s where my Commonwealth journey started in 2014 and now I’m back again chasing success.”

Mark was one of the first athletes from the 2025-26 Winning Students 100 cohort to secure qualification for Glasgow 2026, something he says has brought both relief and clarity to the next stage of his preparation.

“Qualifying early gives you security and peace of mind”, Mark explained, “It meant I could really build the next 12 months around performing at my best in August. This allows you to be patient with your planning and really focus on quality rather than scrambling for qualification. That’s massive as an athlete.”

Alongside his sporting career, Stewart is studying Sport and Physical Activity at the University of Strathclyde, balancing academic work with the demands of life as both a professional road cyclist and a rider on the national programme.

“It’s basically two full-time jobs,” he said, “I’m racing professionally on the road in Europe while also competing on the track for the national team.

“Strathclyde University is amazing in terms of accommodating athletes. Deadline extensions and flexibility have really helped me forge a path with some sort of balance. In the spare moments I have, whether that’s travelling or sitting in hotel rooms, I’ll catch up on coursework.”

Rather than seeing education and elite sport as competing priorities, Stewart believes each has strengthened the other.

“Every year sport becomes harder at the top level because knowledge is so widely available now. To succeed, you need to understand how to consume information and apply it properly.

“In some ways, being an athlete is like doing a PhD on yourself. You’re constantly conducting research with a sample size of one – learning how you work, analysing evidence and refining that over time to produce the best outcome.”

That mindset has been supported through his involvement with Winning Students 100, Scotland’s national sports scholarship programme.

“There’s a prestige that comes with being a Winning Students athlete. It’s a cool club to be part of and it definitely helps universities recognise your commitment to pursuing education while competing at the highest level.

“The bursary support is also massively helpful. Sometimes it’s things people don’t necessarily see, like helping with travel or being able to fly home for university commitments, but they make all the difference.”

Mark’s career has already included significant highs and defining moments – winning Commonwealth gold in Birmingham in 2022 being one of them.

“That was really special. Winning for Scotland and wearing the Scottish jersey made it even sweeter,” he said, “ultimately I’ve always been someone who just loves riding a bike. I’ve had a really good support network around me and I’ve always tried to stay positive, lift people up and do my job to the best of my ability.”

Competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, after being dropped from the British team the year prior, was another treasured moment. Mark explained: “Being there as a reserve and being part of that environment made me proud because of the journey it took to get there. It showed what can happen when you don’t give up.”

Looking ahead, Mark is already thinking beyond cycling too – something he believes education has helped him prepare for.

“A lot of my motivation comes from thinking about who I want to be and what kind of life I want to have after cycling. I’d love to move into something I’m passionate about after sport, and education gives you that foundation. It gives you options.”

For younger athletes considering whether they can pursue elite sport and education at the same time, Stewart’s advice is simple: there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

“For some people, going all-in on sport is the right thing to do. For others, having education alongside it is important. You know yourself best. It’s about figuring out what works for your situation and what’s going to help you thrive in the long term, so listen to your gut.”

Mark is proudly supported by Winning Students 100, Scotland’s national sport scholarship programme funded by sportscotland and the Scottish Funding Council. HIs fourth Commonwealth Games appearance gets underway this July.