The University of Edinburgh’s renowned Global Endurance Project has been given added lustre with the arrival of a double Olympian.
Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, joins from Canada hoping to boost her international track pedigree.
In another notable sporting development Louise Dalgleish has been appointed Head of Performance for women’s rugby at the university.
A multiple Canadian record holder, Gabriela has established herself among the world’s elite in events ranging from 1,500m to 5,000m.
A 1500 metre finalist at Tokyo 2020 – she also competed four years earlier in Rio – Gabriela will help the Endurance Project, headed by Mark Rowland, strengthen its reputation as a hub for elite distance runners drawing on notable athletics experience.
Gabriela said: “The opportunity to work with Mark Rowland, alongside such a high-performance environment, is incredibly exciting. The world-class facilities and exceptional support available here will provide the perfect platform for me to develop and perform at my best.”
Rowland added: “She (Gabriela) is a high-level athlete with an impressive track record, and I’m excited to support her development in this world-class training environment. With the outstanding facilities and comprehensive support available here, I have no doubt she will thrive as part of our program.
Women’s rugby
Meanwhile, Louise Dalgliesh is a distinguished figure in women’s rugby who is celebrated for her extensive experience both on the field as a player and on the sidelines as a coach. Dalgliesh earned 67 caps representing Scotland, participating in the 2006 and 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cups.
Transitioning into coaching, Dalgliesh contributed significantly to the Japan national team’s coaching staff during the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. She later joined Sale Sharks Women as an Assistant and under-23 Performance Coach, playing a pivotal role in developing talent and promoting women’s rugby.
Beyond her coaching roles, Dalgliesh is actively involved in advancing female representation in rugby coaching. She has facilitated sessions for the Gallagher High Performance Academy coaching internship programme and participated in the Elev8 programme, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at supporting elite female coaches.
Louise said: “I’m delighted to be returning to Edinburgh to take up this role at such an exciting time for women’s rugby in Scotland. The programme that has been built here is undoubtedly one of the best in the UK, and I am excited about how I can help take the players and the programme to the next level, and ensure continued success in the BUCS (British Universities) Super Rugby competition. I want future (and current) international players from Scotland and beyond to look at Edinburgh and choose to come here not only because it’s a beautiful city and a world-renowned University, but because the rugby provision gives them everything, they need to achieve their ambitions in the sport.”
Louise fills a gap left by Claire Cruickshank becoming the first full time women’s professional coach at Edinburgh Rugby.
Evergreen sports journalist. Previously published in many publications around the world. Send me your local sports stories. billlothian1008@gmail.com
