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Summer 2012 ‘Sport plays a pivotal role in the life of the campus at Birmingham. It is a key part of the student experience and area of world-class research strength. 2012 is a special year for sport at Birmingham as our campus plays host to the Jamaican Team and our students, alumni and researchers make major contributions to the success of the Olympics.’ Professor David Eastwood, Vice Chancellor and Principal

Our Olympic hopefuls Usain Bolt

As the UK’s biggest sporting event is starting 3000m Steeplechase and was crowned Welcome to Jamaica to rise over the horizon, it is not just the the UK National Champion for the third Jamaican team getting ready to compete: consecutive year in July 2011. The 27-year Here at Birmingham we are used to seeing many of the University’s alumni and current old is currently on a 12-month sabbatical from athletes on campus, particularly on Wednesday students are in the midst of their preparations his role as Sport afternoons, but the imminent arrival of the in a bid to make their mark at the London Scholarship Manager to focus on his bid Jamaican Track and Field Team is creating a real 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. to make the GB team for London 2012. sense of excitement. The Jamaican team will be based at the University of Birmingham for their Louise Hazel (BA French Studies, 2008) – pre-Olympic training camp. They will be staying Naomi Folkard (BA Music, 2005) – Naomi Louise specialises in the , which at the University in the lead-up to London 2012 made her Olympic debut at in 2004 involves competing in seven events (100m and making use of the outstanding facilities as the youngest member of the GB Archery hurdles, high jump, , 200m, , available, including the track and gym. squad. She has since collected an array of javelin and 800m) over a two-day period and medals, including silver at the 2010 World won gold at 2010 . The team is expected to include five-time World Championships. and three-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, Dean Miller (BA Sport, Physical Education as well as current 100 metre World Champion Athletics and Coaching Sciences, 2011) – In 2011 Yohan Blake and women’s World 200 metre Hannah (BSc Biochemistry, 2009) Dean not only completed his final year of study, gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown. – Middle distance runner Hannah made but competed in the IWAS World Junior headlines across the world following an Championships (800m bronze, 1500m gold), incredible 1500m run to earn herself silver Paralympic World Cup (800m 6th) and German 2011 at the World Cup in Munich and at the 2011 IAAF World Championships National Paralympic Championships (800m silver). the World Championships in Slovenia. in Daegu, Korea. Hockey Triathlon Luke Gunn (BSc Sports and Materials Susie Gilbert (BA Geography, 2012) – Non Stanford (BSc Sport and Exercise Science, 2006) – Luke specialises in the 22-year old Susie is a regular fixture on the Sciences, 2010) – Non began competing women’s GB and England Hockey squads. in Triathlon in 2008: by 2009 she was a top In 2010 she won three bronze medals with triathlete and won her first bronze medal England Hockey for the Champions Trophy, at the 2010 Premium European Cup. World Cup and Commonwealth Games. Cycling Simon Mantell (BCom Commerce, 2007) Lora Turnham (BSc Physiotherapy, 2011) – Simon has had a successful career with – Along with her sighted pilot Bex GB and England Hockey collecting 116 Rimmington, Lora has taken the Para-Cycling international caps since his debut in world by storm. In 2011 she won silver November 2005. in both the Para-Cycling World Cup and Para-Cycling Track Championships. Rowing Pamela Relph (BSc Physics, 2011) – Pam was www.birmingham.ac.uk/olympics part of the team that took two gold medals in Hannah England THE StudentExperienceSurvey all our students have an outstanding experience all ourstudents haveanoutstanding experience their timeatUniversity. Wewanttoensurethat volunteering which makeallthedifferenceto societies, accommodation,cultureor opportunities forinternships,clubs and it mightbelearningfacilities,quality ofstaff, experience forsomestudentswhile forothers Sport isanimportantpartofthestudent Elite sportingfacilitiesforall clubs thatcurrentlyusetheUniversity’sfacilities. staff aswellthemanyregionalamateursports designed tomeettheneedsofstudentsand centre willbebuiltattheEdgbastoncampus investment incampusfacilities,anewsports Birmingham. Aspartofafiveyear,£175million facilities buteveryoneattheUniversityof It isnotjusteliteathleteswhodeserveexcellent Under 23Championshipsthefollowingyear. and subsequentlyfinished2ndintheUK I improvedmyrankingto4thinthe800m standard –overthecourseofayear compete alongsideotherpeopleofasimilar coaches, plusthespurofbeingableto all-weather runningtracks,professional at UoB–suchastheMunrowSportsCentre, by therangeoffantasticsportingfacilities 800m athleteintheUK.However,supported of BirminghamIwasrankedas33rdJunior the SocialPolicyprogrammeatUniversity ‘My nameisMichaelSalterandonjoining www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy Michael’s Story sporting activities over the past three years. sporting activitiesoverthepastthreeyears. for helpingmetobalancemyacademicand thank mySocialPolicyTutorRobertPageenough tutor deserveparticularmention:indeed,Icannot incredibly supportive.Mycoachesandacademic was demandingbuttheUniversityhasbeen Balancing recovery,study,trainingandcompeting competing atahighlevel. enabling metorecuperateandcontinue and physiotherapyservicesprovedinvaluable, University facilitiessuchasthepool,gym I struggledwithbothillnessandinjury,but Unfortunately attheendofthatyear, Group and top in the West Midlands. Group and topintheWest Midlands. 13th intheUK,which placesit7thintheRussell to them.In2012the Universitywasrankedas performance in21categoriesthatmatter most 14,000 studentsratedtheirinstitution’s Times HigherStudentExperienceSurvey. Over a continuedriseinourrankingsthe thisyear’s at Birminghamandarethereforepleased tosee fit ortrainingforinternationalcompetitions. in sportswhetheritistohavefunandkeep of recreationalspaceforeveryoneinterested squash courts,aclimbingwallandplenty only oneinBirminghamaswellsportshalls, a (50m)swimmingpoolwhichwillbethe The plansforthesportscentreinclude and timetobeanationalathlete.’ local facilities,itisbothanexcitingplace the Olympicsonhorizonandexcellent training, ideallyhereinBirmingham–with talents. Myfutureplansaretocontinue who seethemselvesasdevelopingnational environment forathletesandsportspersons UoB, asitprovidesanexcellentall-round programme. Iwouldthoroughlyrecommend thoroughly enjoyedmytimeonthe and stimulatingsubject,Ihave Social Policyisahighlycontemporary Open Days2012 form atwww.opendays.bham.ac.uk our websiteandusetheonlinebooking 8 September.Tobookaplace,pleasevisit come alongtoourOpenDayonSaturday students andacademicstaff,whynot To seeallofourfacilitiesandtalkto

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