Duncan Runcie, Class of 2009, is taking his passion for gymnastics from Aberdeen to the international stage.

For Duncan, gymnastics has been part of life since he was a young boy. What began with preschool gymnastics and a seemingly endless supply of energy has developed into a career spanning coaching, judging and competing. Today, he works with high-performance gymnasts in Aberdeen and judges competitions at international level.

His time at Robert Gordon’s College helped shape his approach to finding his own path. While at RGC, Duncan was encouraged to explore his sporting abilities, even branching out from gymnastics to try pole vault.

After leaving the College, he studied Sports Science at Robert Gordon University before pursuing gymnastics professionally. He has since progressed to become a Level 5 High Performance Men’s Artistic Gymnastics coach.

Duncan’s expertise extends well beyond the gym. His judging career has taken him around the world, including to the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where he served as Head Judge for the men’s artistic gymnastics. It was an outstanding achievement and a testament to the depth of his knowledge and experience in the sport. 

Now, another exciting chapter awaits. Later this year, Duncan will travel to Dakar, Senegal, for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where he has been selected to judge men’s artistic gymnastics.

And the Youth Olympics could be just the beginning. Duncan has his sights firmly set on reaching the Olympic Games as an official one day - an ambition that reflects the determination and curiosity that have characterised his journey from the very beginning.

Away from gymnastics, Duncan has even found time to pursue another sport, becoming a British Masters champion in diving. For someone who once dreamed of becoming a stuntman, it seems the desire to be in the air never really went away.

As Duncan prepares for his next international adventure, it is clear that this Gordonian is still only getting started. We look forward to following his journey to Dakar - and perhaps, one day, to the Olympic Games.