Gardener and Rushgrove are first Hall of Fame inductees
Two of the finest athletes the City of Bath has produced today (Monday) became the first inductees to the University of Bath’s new Hall of Fame for Sport.
Jason Gardener and Ben Rushgrove were inducted to the Hall of Fame by Professor Kevin Edge, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath.
The Hall of Fame is located in the entrance of the Sports Training Village, a world-leading sports facility that has been a training base for some of Britain’s top athletes over the last two decades.
It recognises the athletes and coaches who have excelled in their sport and made a significant contribution to the sporting environment at the University.
Both Jason Gardener and Ben Rushgrove have achieved success at the very highest levels, returning to the city of their birth with Olympic and Paralympic medals respectively.
Professor Kevin Edge, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, said: “I’d like to congratulate Jason and Ben on becoming the first two athletes to be inducted to the University’s Hall of Fame for Sport.
“It’s fitting that such inspirational athletes who were both born in Bath should be the first to be inducted to the Hall of Fame. As well as achieving success at the very highest level of sport, they have been outstanding ambassadors, both for the University of Bath and the City of Bath.”
Jason Gardener MBE, who won gold in the 4x100m relay at the Athens 2004 Olympics, said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Hall of Fame. I feel extremely proud that my time and achievements training at the University of Bath have been recognised in this very special way.
“To achieve success at the very highest level in sport requires an excellent, committed support team and environment. I am extremely grateful to every person at the University who played a part directly or indirectly contributing to my success, enabling me to prepare and be the best that I could be,” he said. “Without the University’s support, achieving my childhood dream of becoming an Olympic Champion certainly would have been harder to achieve.”
Ben Rushgrove, who won silver at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and bronze at London 2012, said: “When I started on this journey I had no idea I would end up in a Hall of Fame. It’s a privilege to have represented my country and I hope the Hall of Fame will inspire others to one day get their picture on it.”
Another prominent Bath Olympian is due to be inducted to the Hall of Fame later this month. Further details to follow.
Background information
Jason Gardener MBE
Born in Bath, Jason was coached at the University of Bath by Malcolm Arnold. Nicknamed the Bath Bullet, he led off the GB 4x100m quartet that won gold at the Athens 2004 Olympics.
His other major achievements included four successive European Indoor Championships gold medals over 60m and in 1999 he became only the third GB sprinter to dip under the 10-second barrier for 100m, clocking a time of 9.98 seconds.
He was an ambassador for the 2008 UK School Games and the 2013 Special Olympics GB National Summer Games. He also chairs the Team Bath Athletes’ Forum.
Olympic Games
Gold 4x100m Athens 2004
World Championships
Silver 4x100m Seville 1999
Bronze 4x100m Helsinki 2005
World Indoor Championships
Gold 60m Budapest 2004
Bronze 60m Maebashi 1999
Bronze 60m Birmingham 2003
Commonwealth Games
Gold 4x100m Manchester 2002
European Indoor Championships
Gold 60m Ghent 2000
Gold 60m Vienna 2002
Gold 60m Madrid 2005
Gold 60m Birmingham 2007
Silver 60m Valencia 1998
Ben Rushgrove
Ben, coached at the University of Bath by Rob Ellchuk, won medals at back-to-back Paralympic Games, with silver at Beijing in 2008 and bronze at London 2012 in the T36 category for athletes with cerebral palsy.
He graduated from the University of Bath with a degree in Sports Performance in 2009 and was voted the University’s Sports Personality of the Year in the same year.
Paralympic Games
Silver T36 100m Beijing 2008
Bronze T36 200m London 2012
IPC World Championships
Bronze T36 200m Assen 2006
Silver T36 100m Christchurch 2011
Bronze T36 200m Christchurch 2011
IPC European Championships
Bronze T36 200m Stadskanaal 2012
For further information please contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518.
