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Our summer of sport successes continues

29 August 2024
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Our students, staff and alumni continue to represent Durham at international levels across the sporting spectrum this summer. From competing in the Olympic Games in Paris, the World Rowing Championships in Canada, and the Paralympic Games, our record year for sport shows no signs of slowing.

Earlier this year, our student sports clubs achieved an all-time record for the University by winning 13 BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) national championships in one season. This marked a milestone moment, showcasing the sporting prowess of many of our student clubs from beach volleyball through to judo.

This was just the beginning of what has been, and continues to be, a phenomenal summer of sport at Durham.

2024 Paralympic Games

Alumna Gemma Collis (Law, St Cuthbert's Society, 2011) is set to compete in the wheelchair fencing in Paris (Wednesday 28 August - Sunday 8 September 2024). Gemma is a seasoned Paralympian, having competed in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 previously. 

Gemma enjoyed a variety of sports from a young age, including triple jump, figure skating, 100m sprint and hockey. After becoming dependent on crutches or a wheelchair from the age of 15, she discovered wheelchair basketball, which she began to get involved with in her first year at Durham. It was while practising basketball that she was approached by Laszlo Jakab, former Team GB wheelchair fencing head coach. After falling in love with the sport, three months later she competed in her first international competition, the 2012 Malchow Wheelchair Fencing World Cup. Seven months after this, and less than a year after she first picked up a sword, she was off to the London 2012 Paralympics for Great Britain in the women's Épée.

To date she has a swathe of titles to her name, including 19 World Cup medals and World Cup winner. She is seeking to become ParalympicGB's first female Paralympic medallist since 1988 in Paris after winning European silver earlier this year. 

She competes in the Women's Épée Category A and Women's Sabre Category A starting on Tuesday 3 September. 

Watch our interview with Gemma in her final year (2013) below.

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2024 Olympics Games

Four Durham alumni and a graduating student were selected for Team GB in the Olympics in Paris:

Women's hockey

  • Tess Howard - Geography, University College, 2017-22
  • Fiona Crackles - Sport, Health and Exercise, Collingwood College, 2019-24

Men's hockey

  • Jack Waller - History, College of St Hild and St Bede, 2015-18
  • Ollie Payne - Sport, Health and Exercise, Josephine Butler College, 2017-20

Women's rowing

  • Lauren Irwin - Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity, College of St Hild and St Bede, 2016-19

Lauren, as part of the women's eight (W8+) rowing team, returned with a bronze medal, after coming head to head with current world and European champions Romania in the final. Both men and women's hockey teams reached the quarter-finals in fiercely contested competitions. 

Our Olympic representation didn't stop with competing athletes, and alumna Gabby Logan (Law, College of St Hild and St Bede, 1992-95; Honorary degree 2015) played a leading role in BBC Sport's TV presenting team. Alumna Claire Bennett (Modern Languages, Hatfield College, 2004-08), who has several Commonwealth Fencing Games titles to her name, also provided commentary for Eurosport on the fencing programme at the Grand Palais.

Finally, alumnus Dan Barstow (Sport, St Aidan's College, 2006-09), former 1st team hockey captain at Durham, participated as an international umpire across the hockey competition, including as video umpire in the men's Olympic final gold medal match between Germany and eventual winners the Netherlands.

We are very proud of all who were involved in this year's Olympics.

World Rowing Championships in Canada

Hot on the heels of alumna Lauren's Olympic bronze comes further news of selection and success. A total of six members of the Durham community were selected and participated in the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in St Catherine's in Canada, which took place from Sunday 18 - Sunday 25 August:

 

  • Will Fletcher: Our lead rowing coach was named as the coach for the women's four (BW4-). Will is also an alumnus - Modern Languages, College of St Hild and St Bede, 2007-11.
  • Sam Tuck: alumnus selected as the coach for the women's double sculls (BW2x) - Sport, Health & Exercise, College of St Hild and St Bede, 2011-14.
  • Hermione Hill: alumna selected as the cox for the women's eight (W8+) - Economics, Van Mildert College, 2020-23.
  • Gus John: alumnus selected for the men's eight (BM8+) - History, St Aidan's College, 2020-23.
  • Philippa Emery: alumna selected for the women's four (BW4-) - Biological Sciences, South College, 2020-23.
  • Anna Grace: current undergraduate selected for the women's pair (BW2-) - Geography, St Chad's College.

 

In addition to the above mentioned Durham rowers and coaches, a further connection deepens our links with British Rowing. Peter Sheppard, GB Rowing Team Head Coach for the Olympic Pathway, and coach for the women's eight (W8+) in the Championships, studied Engineering at Grey College from 1979-82. 

 

Our top-ranking Durham squad put in an impressive performance - Hermione, Gus, Philippa and Anna all came away with gold medals in their categories and Sam and Will supporting in coaching roles. Anna, alongside partner Holly Youd, becomes World Under 23 Champion. Congratulations to all!

 

Left to right: Gus John, Anna Grace, Will Fletcher, Philippa Emery, Hermione Hill

Main image courtesy of Team GB.

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