Silver lining for para-badminton player Dan Bethell after dramatic final while para-triathlete Michael Taylor places sixth in Paris

Bath para-badminton star Dan Bethell won the second silver medal of his Paralympic Games career as he was narrowly edged out in a dramatic men’s SL3 singles final. An absorbing encounter saw Bethell recover from losing the opening game, then rally from 19-16 down in the decisive third game before saving a match point to serve for the gold medal at 21-20. However, opponent Kumar Nitesh of India managed to take the next three points...

02 September 2024

Magnificent seven ready to write their own chapters in this summer’s Paris sporting success story

Paralympians who train at the University of Bath are heading to Paris determined to write their own chapters in this summer’s sporting success story. Seven athletes from four sports – Dan Bethell (para-badminton), Suzanna Hext (para-swimming), Michael Taylor (para-triathlon), and Gemma Collis, Dimitri Coutya, Piers Gilliver and Oliver Lam-Watson (wheelchair fencing) – have been selected to represent Britain when the Games take place from Wednesday 28th August to Sunday 8th September. Defending Category A epee...

19 August 2024

Sporting scholars on the podium in Paris as Bath-associated athletes write their names into the history books

University of Bath-associated athletes finished with two gold medals, three silver, one bronze and a host of historic achievements from the Olympic Games after two weeks of outstanding competition in Paris. Four of the medals were won by current or former Bath sporting scholars, with (pictured top, from left) swimmer Tom Dean, artistic swimmer Kate Shortman, judoka Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz and rower Becky Wilde all having been supported by the University as they pursued their dual...

14 August 2024

Former Bath sporting scholar Imogen Allison joins Queensland Firebirds for 2025 and 2026 Suncorp Super Netball seasons

Former Team Bath Netball star and University of Bath sporting scholar Imogen Allison will play professionally in Australia in 2025 and 2026 after signing for Queensland Firebirds. Allison, who developed into one of the world’s leading mid-courters during her seven years in Blue & Gold from 2016 to 2023, was player of the year when Team Bath reached the 2021 Super League Grand Final. She was also a key figure when England won a historic...

12 August 2024

More history for scholar Kate Shortman as she and artistic swimming partner Izzy Thorpe win groundbreaking Duet silver

Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe made history once again when they won Great Britain’s first-ever Olympic medal in artistic swimming. The pair produced outstanding Technical and Free routines in the Aquatics Centre in Paris, on Friday and Saturday respectively, to secure a stunning silver in the overall standings. Their latest success follows on from the breakthrough World Aquatics Championships medals won by the duet in February 2024, as well as Bath sporting scholar Shortman’s historic...

10 August 2024

Thrilling silver completes set of global medals for swimmer Ben Proud as hockey player Tim Nurse is added to GB men’s squad

Ben Proud added an Olympic medal to his collection of 50m freestyle silverware after narrowly finishing second in a thrilling contest at the Paris La Defense Arena tonight. Tom Dean also raced in his third final of the week, placing fifth in the 200m individual medley behind home favourite Leon Marchand. Proud, who is a member of the University of Bath Swimming Club, has won World, Commonwealth and European gold but fell just short of...

02 August 2024

Alumna Becky Wilde savours “incredible” medal moment after winning ‘surprise’ double scull rowing bronze at Olympic Games

Becky Wilde admitted it would “take a while to sink in” after her first season of senior international rowing competition was capped by a brilliant bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Wilde, who is a member of the Bath University Boat Club, and partner Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne were paired together in the women’s double scull in March and only secured their Paris place through the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in May. They continued to...

01 August 2024

Golden night in Paris as Bath swimmers Tom Dean and Kieran Bird help Britain defend freestyle relay title in magnificent fashion

Tom Dean won the third Olympic gold of his career to date and Kieran Bird claimed his first as the University of Bath-based swimmers helped Great Britain retain their men’s 4x200m freestyle title in magnificent fashion at Paris 2024 tonight. Dean once again teamed up with Duncan Scott and former Aquatics GB Bath Performance Centre training partners James Guy and Matt Richards to win Britain’s first swimming gold medal of the Games in the Paris...

30 July 2024

University of Bath alumna Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz wins stunning judo silver for Mexico at Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Former University of Bath sporting scholar Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz produced a string of inspired performances to win an incredible judo silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Awiti-Alcaraz, who represents Mexico, saw off a host of the world’s leading judoka on her way to the final of the women’s -63kg competition in the Champ-de-Mars Arena. She made a strong start in the gold-medal showdown, taking an early lead through wazi-ari, but Slovenia’s Andreja Leski was able...

30 July 2024

Engineering student-athlete Sofia Sjoborg impresses on Olympic debut as she helps Sweden secure top-six finish in team eventing

University of Bath student Sofia Sjoborg helped Sweden finish a superb sixth behind gold-medallists Team GB in the Paris 2024 Eventing Team event at the Château de Versailles. Sjoborg, who studies Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and is supported by the Team Bath Breakthrough programme, impressed on her Olympic debut and began the three days of competition by scoring 33.3 in the dressage on her horse Bryjamolga VH Marienshof, known as Belle. She was then...

29 July 2024