Hosted by alumnus, University Council member, and Sky Sports News presenter Mike Wedderburn, the evening brought together athletes, coaches, support staff, researchers, sporting partners, and wider University colleagues to celebrate º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s enviable success at both Paris 2024 Games.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ athletes brought home an incredible 35 medals, including 16 from the first stage of the Games and 19 from the Paralympic Games.
The impact was truly global with podium places secured for Great Britain, USA, France, Ireland, Canada, and The Netherlands respectively.
The medal hauls from each Games would have seen º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ finish in the top 20 nations in the official standings if it had been reclassified as a country.
Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University, and Professor Jo Maher, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Sport, both delivered inspiring speeches to delegates, underpinning the importance of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s sporting ecosystem and its influence on the global stage.
Alongside networking opportunities and media appearances, the event included panel discussions hosted by alumnus and Chancellor Lord Sebastian Coe with medal winning athletes Daniel Wiffen (Ireland, swimming), Tully Kearney MBE (Great Britain, swimming), Alex Haydock-Wilson (Great Britain, Athletics) and Charlie Dobson (Great Britain, Athletics).
Lord Coe also led a panel discussion focussing on ‘the team behind the team’ with guests Andi Manley (Daniel Wiffen’s coach), Gavin Smith (Cassandre Beaugrand’s coach), Jack Buckner (CEO UK Athletics) and Penny Briscoe OBE (ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Paris 2024 and Director of Sport).
The University would like to place on record its thanks to Paul Philpott, President & CEO Kia Motors UK and Ireland who provided the venue free of charge.
