Kristian Callaghan sets sights on second Commonwealth Games medal after Gold Coast 2018 selection

06 December 2017

Shooting star Kristian Callaghan will have chance to add to his Commonwealth Games medal collection after becoming the latest University of Bath-based athlete to be selected for the Gold Coast 2018 Games in Australia.

Callaghan, who graduated in Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering during the summer and continues to train at the Sports Training Village, will once again represent Team England in the pistol competition having won bronze in the 25m rapid fire event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

He had previously won Great Britain’s first gold medal at the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival, again in the 25m rapid fire event, and represented his country at the 2015 World University Games in South Korea.

“I am delighted to be going to another Commonwealth Games,” said Callaghan. “The qualification period ended in August and I found out I’d been selected about four weeks ago, so it’s nice to finally be able to say I am going.

“I have put in a lot of training and hard work to earn my place, now I’m looking forward to going out there and doing the business.”

Callaghan was supported by an Ivor Powell Scholarship, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) and the Team Bath Dual Career programme during his five years of studies at the University, which including designing an autonomous drone intended to deliver humanitarian aid following natural disasters.

He is now receiving a Support Service Grant from the University, which allows him to access the gym and sport science facilities at the Sports Training Village during the week. He also receives strength and conditioning coaching from Harri Cizmic.

“I’m taking the opportunity to focus fully on my shooting after graduating last summer and the Service Support Grant has been a big help,” said Callaghan, who also trains at the National Shooting Centre in Bisley at weekends.

He is keeping his hand in with engineering, though, and is collaborating on projects with the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He has also applied for a PhD Research Programme in Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

The Commonwealth Games is just one of a host of big competitions coming up for Callaghan in 2018, including the World University Championships in Malaysia and the ISSF World Shooting Championships in South Korea.

Callaghan is the ninth University of Bath-based sportsperson to be officially selected for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. He joins athletes Cameron Chalmers, Emily Diamond, Tom Gale and David King, swimmers James Guy, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor and Andrew Willis, and triathlete Vicky Holland on the plane to Australia.

Stay up to date with all the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games news and selections here.
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