Weale wins historic European Champs silver medal
University of Bath Sports Technology graduate Sam Weale is celebrating winning the silver medal at the Modern Pentathlon European Championships in Hungary.
The 28-year-old Beijing 2008 Olympian produced a terrific run/shoot to climb from seventh place to second at the championships in Debrecen.
Weale becomes the first British man to win an individual medal at a Modern Pentathlon European Championships. Team-mate Nick Woodbridge finished 26th.
Weale’s success means Britain have accumulated two medals at the championships so far, following the British women’s trio of Heather Fell, Katy Livingston and Mhairi Spence, who won bronze in the women’s team event at the championships yesterday (Saturday).
In the women’s individual competition Fell finished sixth, Spence was eighth, Louise Helyer 15th and Livingston 20th.
Helyer, Spence and Livingston are all University of Bath Coach Education and Sports Development graduates.
Weale, who is ranked 25th in the world and finished 10th at the Beijing Olympics, said: “It felt pretty good to cross the line in second today. I felt a foot taller and there was a real spring in my step when I crossed the line.
“I felt good and quite strong after the semi-final on Friday, but my combined event hadn’t gone so well, so I was a little nervous today.
“But I thought the final would be a good opportunity to put it right. I thought I was in with a chance after the fencing, but I was a little annoyed with the ride today because I had two fences down.
“Going into the combined event I thought potentially I was in the running for a medal. I felt quite confident, but it was a bit of surprise and a relief. It’s my first European or World Championship medal, hopefully there will be many more medals to come,” said Weale.
Pentathlon GB has its high performance centre at the University of Bath.
