Euro silver keeps Piers Gilliver on top of the world ahead of Rio 2016 Paralympics

University of Bath-based wheelchair fencer Piers Gilliver can begin preparing for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in earnest after finishing his qualification campaign ranked number one in the world. The 21-year-old won a silver medal at the IWAS European Championships in Torino, Italy on Thursday to confirm his status as the top epee fencer during the two-year qualification period. It was Gilliver’s ninth medal in 12 ranking competitions since September 2014 and his third podium...

20 May 2016

European silvers give swimmers a boost as they prepare for Rio 2016 Olympics

University of Bath-based swimmers Jazz Carlin and Siobhan-Marie O’Connor both won silver medals on another great night of competition at the LEN European Aquatics Championships in London. Both athletes are in heavy training for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games but still managed to produce impressive performances in the Aquatic Centre, with Carlin clocking 8:23.52 as she finished runner-up to Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas in the 800m freestyle. “I’m really happy with that,” said Carlin. “To come...

20 May 2016

BLOG: Return to Africa as students take part in Zambia IDEALS project for 11th year

University of Bath students are once again preparing to fly out to Africa to take part in the Zambia IDEALS project. It is the 11th summer that students from Bath have participated in the scheme, which sees them work in a sports development and coaching capacity at the heart of local communities in the Zambian capital of Lusaka. BSc Sports Performance student George Lavender took part last year and is returning to Zambia this summer as...

20 May 2016

Final chance to set Olympic standard as pentathletes head to World Championships

Pentathlon GB has selected nine University of Bath-based athletes, including two current students and six graduates, for next week’s World Championships – the last qualifying event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Samantha Murray, World Champion in 2014 and bronze-medallist in 2012, is named in the women’s team along with Kate French, Joanna Muir and Freyja Prentice. Jamie Cooke, fresh from winning a historic World Cup Final gold medal, is in the men’s team along...

19 May 2016

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor sets up second medal shot at European Aquatics Champs

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor will be competing for her second LEN European Aquatics Championships medal of the week on Thursday after qualifying second-fastest for the women’s 200m individual medley final. The University of Bath-based swimmer was runner-up to defending champion Katinka Hosszu of Hungary in the second of Wednesday’s semi-finals at the London Aquatics Centre. “I’m really happy with that,” said O’Connor, who won gold in the mixed 4x100m medley relay on Tuesday. “The time was similar...

19 May 2016

Pioneering Olympic modern pentathlon medallists inducted into Hall of Fame for Sport

The glorious past, exciting present and bright future of modern pentathlon was celebrated at the University of Bath on Wednesday when Dr Stephanie Cook and Kate Allenby were welcomed into the Hall of Fame for Sport. The current Pentathlon GB athletes training towards the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were among those watching as Sydney 2000 champion Cook and bronze-medallist Allenby were officially inducted by Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor of the University...

18 May 2016

“Amazing night” as swimming stars add European gold to their World relay title

University of Bath-based swimmers Chris Walker-Hebborn and Siobhan-Marie O’Connor helped Great Britain defend their European Championships mixed 4x100m medley relay title at the London Aquatics Centre on Tuesday. The British Swimming National Centre Bath duo teamed up with Adam Peaty – fresh from winning the 100m breaststroke title – and Fran Halsall to win gold in 3.44.56. The same quartet won gold at the World Championships last year and their victory never looked in doubt...

18 May 2016

Rio 2016 qualification is almost signed and sealed for Team Bath Judo’s Ben Fletcher

Team Bath Judo’s Ben Fletcher will find out for certain in the next two weeks whether he has qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Fletcher wasn’t able to reproduce the form he had shown while finishing a career-high seventh in Azerbaijan the previous week as he was beaten by home judoka Viktor Demyanenko in the first round of the men’s -100kg competition at the Almaty Grand Prix in Kazakhstan. But despite the setback, Fletcher...

16 May 2016

Star Team Bath defender Samantha Cook helps England retain Netball Europe crown

Team Bath Netball’s Samantha Cook played a starring role as England retained the Netball Europe Open Championship title with wins against the other home nations over the weekend. The defender, who enjoyed a strong finish to the Vitality Netball Superleague season after returning from injury, came off the bench to help England to an 83-32 victory over Northern Ireland in the opening match. Cook then started the remaining two games and produced some outstanding intercepts...

16 May 2016

Spanish success for Paul Blake as Rio 2016 Paralympics countdown continues

University of Bath-based athlete Paul Blake continued his preparations for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games by producing an impressive win in Spain over the weekend. The triple World Champion, making his second international appearance of the season, clocked 54.98 to take victory in the T36 400m at the XI International Meeting Kern Pharma Grand Prix in Sauleda. Blake is coached by Rob Ellchuk at the Sports Training Village. University of Bath Business Masters graduate Lawrence...

16 May 2016