Jess wins GBR’s first medal at World University Games
University of Bath student Jess Dickons has won Britain’s first medal of the World University Games in China when she struck gold in the 200m butterfly final.
The 21-year-old Sports Performance student came home in 2:08.91, just edging out Japan’s Natsumi Hoshi by three-hundredths of a second at the Games in Shenzhen.
“I knew it was going to be a really quick race and I knew there were some fast swimmers in there,” said Dickons, who combines her studies with training at the British Gas Intensive Training Centre (ITC) at the University of Bath.
“I didn’t think I’d be winning a gold medal. I was absolutely stunned when I looked up at the scoreboard, but I’m really happy and I did a pretty quick time.
“I’m so proud to win gold for my country and for my university,” said Dickons, who finished sixth in the 100m butterfly final on Wednesday.
Dickons is no stranger to the international podium, having won 200m butterfly bronze at both the 2008 World Short Course Championships and 2006 European Short Course Championships.
The GBR men’s football team, captained by University of Bath graduate Gary Warren, beat Korea 1-0 in the quarter-finals to set-up a semi-final against Brazil tomorrow (Saturday).
And Coach Education and Sports Development student Polly Wardle was on target with the winner for the GBR women’s team in their 2-1 win over South Africa in the 9th/12th place matches.
Sports Performance student Chris Coles won both of his doubles contests against Malaysia to help Team GBR to a 3-2 win over the Malaysians in the 7th/8th place match. He partnered Alyssa Lim to a 2-0 win in the mixed doubles and then made sure of seventh place overall by winning the deciding men’s double tie 2-1 with Paul van Rietvelde. It meant GB secured their highest finish yet in the team badminton competition at the Games.
University of Bath students and graduates who are representing Great Britain at the Games receive funding from the University’s Elite Athlete Support Fund, which is kindly donated by the University Alumni.
For further information please contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518.
