The award – in recognition of Melanie’s contribution to swimming as a coach and athlete and her achievements at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games – was presented at the University’s degree ceremony on Tuesday 17th July.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ graduate Melanie is a double Olympian and five-time Olympic finalist, with more than 20 international medals to her name. She is also the second most decorated female at the Commonwealth Games; at the 2006 Melbourne Games alone she brought home no fewer than six medals.

After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Melanie announced her retirement from swimming and started her coaching career as Head Coach at Derby Swimming Club. Then in 2016 she moved across the East Midlands to join º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ as National Centre Lead Coach for British Swimming.

Melanie has coached Adam Peaty to unprecedented success; he holds two world records in both 50m and 100m breaststroke and is one of just three British swimmers to have won gold at the four major national events.

Melanie was named British Swim Coach of the Year three times in a row and in 2014 was named International Swim Coach of the Year.

On receiving her degree, Melanie said: “I first came to º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ as a 19-year old; I had a thirst for life and a drive to live everything º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ had to offer.

“I was greeted with support, a fantastic system, a revolutionary environment and inspirational people and coaches. For me, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ created a family, a network. It breathed the dream and it let me breathe the dream – that dream being that anything is possible.”