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A record year for sport at Durham

Our sports clubs have achieved an all-time University record, and five alumni and a graduating student competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. We're proud of our athletes' success and how sport plays a core role in Durham student life.
Over 75%
of our students are engaged in sport and physical activity
£47 million
has been invested in our sporting facilities since 2012
54 sports and 700 teams
to choose from at Durham

Celebrating our athletes from students to alumni

Our athletes hail from all walks of life, academic disciplines and Colleges and hone their skills while at Durham.

Sporting prowess doesn't stop after graduation, and many go on to become fully fledged sport stars. Others continue to be involved with their sport by choosing different pathways, such as providing leadership, coaching or volunteering. We are inspired by our student athletes and alumni alike, and are proud of their dedication and passion.
Discover our athletes
A group of mainly women standing on the banks of a river celebrating while holding a trophy and standing in front of a red BUCS champions banner

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University student
Through our Wider Student Experience programme, we do all we can to support students to enrich their time at Durham through the performing arts, sport, volunteering, entrepreneurship, e-sports and countless other activities. This year has been an excellent one for our sports clubs. They have achieved a record-breaking 13 British Universities and Colleges Sport national titles. Four alumni and a graduating student have so far been named in the Olympic team too - for rowing and hockey. We wish them all the very best of luck this summer and will certainly be cheering them on!
Professor Karen O’Brien
Vice-Chancellor and Warden
The logos for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics

Durham athletes at Paris 2024

Five alumni and a graduating student competed in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Congratulations to Lauren Irwin (women's rowing), Tess Howard and Fiona Crackles (women's hockey), Jack Waller and Ollie Payne (men's hockey), and Gemma Collis (wheelchair fencing).

Find out about our Olympic and Paralympic athletes Read our interview with Olympic rower Lauren Irwin

Graduating student Fiona Crackles playing in GB vs the Netherlands in the Olympic women's hockey quarter-finals on Monday 5 August.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumnus Jack Waller playing in GB vs Spain in the first of the men's hockey pool matches on Saturday 27 July.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumnus Jack Waller playing in GB vs Spain in the first of the men's hockey pool matches on Saturday 27 July.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumna Gemma Collis fighting against Ukraine's Nataliia Morkvych in her first women's wheelchair fencing match (sabre category A) on Tuesday 3 September.

Image courtesy of ParalympicsGB / imagecomms

Alumna Gemma Collis during the women's wheelchair fencing matches (sabre category A) on Tuesday 3 September.

Image courtesy of ParalympicsGB / imagecomms

Alumna Tess Howard playing in GB vs the Netherlands in the Olympic women's hockey quarter-finals on Monday 5 August.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumna Tess Howard playing in GB vs the USA in the fourth of the women's hockey pool matches on Thursday 1 August.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumnus Ollie Payne at the end of GB vs Spain in the first of the men's hockey pool matches on Saturday 27 July.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumna Lauren Irwin and team during the women's eight (W8+) rowing finals on Saturday 3 August. The team placed third behind Romania and Canada.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumna Lauren Irwin and the women's eight (W8+) team celebrating with their Olympic bronze medals.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Paris 2024 in pictures

Browse the slideshow for a snapshot of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes in action. 

Not just athletes

Our Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic representation hasn't stopped with competing athletes - a number of other members of Durham's sporting and academic community have been involved in a variety of ways.

Professor Brett Smith from our Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences attended the Paralympic Games to campaign for equality in physical education (PE) for disabled children. 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 during the Olympics. 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.

Find out more

Follow Durham through Paris 2024

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University student
The support I received from my College (Hild Bede) and its boat club definitely helped my rowing career. The links that the University also had with British rowing definitely helped my progression through the sport too. I'm so grateful for everyone's support and I wouldn't be here without it. Especially the coaches, my friends at University and my family.
Lauren Irwin
Team GB women's 8 rower and alumna

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Watch videos with our Olympic and Paralympic athletes

Play video 1

Gemma Collis (women's wheelchair fencing)

In an interview with Team Durham in her final year at Durham in 2013, Gemma talked to us about her sporting journey here.

A record year for sport at Durham

University and College level sport is thriving, but don't just take our word for it! Delve into our news articles, read our student blogs and check out Team Durham's social media.

Our summer of sport successes continues

Our students, staff and alumni continue to represent Durham at international levels across the sporting spectrum this summer, from Paris to Canada.
A group of female rowers and their cox in white tracksuits jumping in the air with their hands up

Record-breaking season for sport at Durham

Our student sports clubs have achieved an all-time University record by winning 13 BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) national championships this season.
A group of men in a swimming pool celebrating

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"The facilities at Maiden Castle are pretty special. It’s a pretty good set-up there and something athletes need for strength and conditioning, and physical fitness. You can’t really get much better. The sports staff and coaches have been brilliant as well."

Max Pepper

Professional rugby player for Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club and alumnus

 

"Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would win four National Championships in one year, and be part of a wider team breaking its all-time BUCS Championship record. It just goes to show how Team Durham fosters a culture of excellence."

Ryan Dickson

Durham volleyball, baseball, and MBA postgraduate and sports scholar, St Cuthbert’s Society

 

"Being able to train everyday with such a talented group has really helped me to continue to develop both as a player and a leader. So much so that I received my first England Lacrosse senior cap in April and was very grateful to receive Sportswoman of the Year at the University’s Palatinate Awards off the back of this at the start of June."

Lizzie Rutherford

Durham lacrosse, Geography student, Collingwood College 

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Explore the latest sports news

  • Max and Julie Coleby Retire After Decades of Service

    After 22 years of dedicated service as head coaches for Durham University’s Track Sprint teams, Max and Julie Coleby have officially retired from coaching Durham University Athletics and Cross Country (DUAXC).
    Durham news
    Max and Julie Coleby

  • Durham alumni make Great British history in America’s Cup

    Matt Rossiter and Ryan Todhunter participated as ‘cyclors’ in the recent 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona.
    Alumni news
    Two men wearing white polo shirts standing together grinning at the camera making a thumbs up sign

  • Our summer of sport successes continues

    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.
    Durham news

Max and Julie Coleby Retire After Decades of Service

After 22 years of dedicated service as head coaches for Durham University’s Track Sprint teams, Max and Julie Coleby have officially retired from coaching Durham University Athletics and Cross Country (DUAXC).

Durham news
Max and Julie Coleby

Durham alumni make Great British history in America’s Cup

Matt Rossiter and Ryan Todhunter participated as ‘cyclors’ in the recent 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona.
Alumni news
Two men wearing white polo shirts standing together grinning at the camera making a thumbs up sign

Our summer of sport successes continues

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.
Durham news
More sports news

Our sporting community

Our student and alumni athletes regularly hit the headlines for a variety of sports. They also engage with the wider Durham community to inform and inspire, with initiatives for local schools as well as audiences around the globe.

Our researchers are at the forefront of sport thought leadership and research news too, from exploring barriers to physical activity, to analysing what women need to feel safer when attending football tournaments.

Award-winning Sports University of the Year in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
Top 3 We've been ranked in the top 3 universities by BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport), since 2012

Discover the breadth of sporting activity at Durham

Our students, staff and alumni

Seven members of our sporting community participate in a successful 2024 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Canada

A mixed group of men and women standing in front of a statue in the sunshine wearing or holding gold medals while celebrating

Durham coach Will Fletcher and student Anna Grace selected for GB squad in 2024 World Rowing Championships in Canada

Silhouettes of two boats of rowers on the River Wear

Our new Esports Hub at Maiden Castle provides a purpose-built space for practising, competing and coming together

A smiling female gamer sitting in front of a computer game

Three alumni and graduating student selected for Team GB hockey ahead of 2024 Olympics in Paris

Lots of flags from around the world with teh Paris 2024 logo at the right hand side

A family affair: talking rugby with student Max Pepper

Undergraduate Max Pepper

Student Josh Waddell - double world champion at the U23 Wheelchair Fencing World Championships in Thailand

Headshot of event speaker, Josh

Undergraduate Max Pepper named in England Student rugby squad to face France Universities

Close-up of a male rugby player holding a rugby ball by their feet

Celebrating our work in our community in the North East of England across student sport and performing arts

An orchestra performing at the Gala Theatre

Durham supports local football legend Jack Greenwell’s induction into Hall of Fame

A close-up of the table set-up at the Hall of Fame event, including the front cover of the Jack Greenwell official event programme

Alumna Katharine Ford and student Josh Waddell (amongst others), discussed High Performance Mindsets during Durham Global Week

Five Headshots of the host and speakers for this event

Alumnus Callum Elson selected for Team GB & NI for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow

Photo of Callum Elson, Durham alumnus

Undergraduates Scarlett Spavin and Lizzy Pocknell score for England Women's U21 Hockey World Cup in Chile

Scarlett Spavin and Lizzy Pocknell

33 Durham alumni embarked on a year-long challenge to run, cycle or swim 80,150km in memory of two fellow students

Three men wearing cyling gear smiling at the camera

Durham staff member Kylie Kendrick honoured by National Student Esports

Kylie Kendrick in esports action

Sporting thought leadership and research news

Leading researcher campaigns for fair access to sports with Paralympics GB

Prof Brett Smith smiling in front of a screen

Research explores how opposing approaches to health management could support eating disorder recovery

Gym class lifting handheld weights with smiling woman in foreground

A new study shows that rugby players who have suffered multiple concussions experience protein changes in their blood

Male rugby players in a game.

Our community sport programme has been highlighted as an example of best practice in a Russell Group report

Zoomed out, blurred image of indoor football match

Euro 2024: women need safer fan spaces at big football tournaments to stamp out hostility and abuse

A female football fan wearing England face paint in front of an England flag

Euro 2024: a new poll reveals that kebabs are the favourite food of Euro 2024 football supporters

Two kebabs rotating

New reviews on interventions to prevent childhood obesity

Young Children playing in a park

How the science of inner experience could transform the future of video games

A man wearing a headset playing a video game

Innovative body image research secures prestigious €2.5m grant

Three individuals running in a park setting

Physical activity insecurity is stopping youngsters from getting active, study finds

The feet of a person wearing bright trainings walking along a path

A new research project will capture fans’ memories of Sunderland football club going back to the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Black and white photo of Ian Porterfield's winning goal for Sunderland Football Club in the 1973 FA Cup Final

The Moving Social Work project will be expanding thanks to a £1 million investment from Sport England

Image of feet in trainers walking on a tredmill

New guidelines advise against routine weighing and measuring of athletes

A female gymnast performing a gymnastic manoeuvre with a ball.

Talking to BBC Radio 4’s Inside Health about physical activity in older age

Inside Health

Alumna Tess Howard's dissertation research on the impacts of gendered sports clothing featured in The Guardian

Two teams playing hockey with one player out in front with the puck

Read more from our students

Read about sport at Durham in our students' own words, and explore the wider sporting social media community. 

Student blog highlights

Beyond the lecture theatre: exploring Durham's sports scene

Third year Earth Sciences student Isabel explains how sport has shaped her time at Durham at both College and University level.

College sport - Hill v Bailey

Final year Geography undergraduate Tanisha delves into the details of College sport, and how Hill and Bailey Colleges cater for their student sports teams.
Read more of our student blogs
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Inspiring the extraordinary

Our transformative wider student experience helps students develop team working and leadership capabilities.

We’re consistently ranked within the top three British universities for sport and were named as Sports University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023. Sport is at the core of Durham student life, and a huge range of sporting opportunities is available, from joining College teams to competing at University level and beyond.

Learn more about sport at Durham