Our growing Olympic and Paralympic heritage

Team GB and ParalympicsGB have been growing in stature on the Olympic stage, and Durham’s involvement has been increasing with it.

Before we reached the Millennium, Durham alumnus and honorary graduate Jonathan Edwards CBE (Physics, Van Mildert College,1984-87) was representing Team GB in the Olympic Games. His silver medal winning triple jump performance was one of only 15 medals (one gold, eight silver and six bronze) in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

In the Sydney Games of 2000, he secured one of eleven British gold medals in a much-improved haul of 28. There were only two track and field golds, the other was won by Dame Denise Lewis in the women’s 800m.  

Durham has a rich sporting heritage, supporting over fifty capped internationals, and we have the highest participation rate of British universities, with over 75 per cent of our students engaged in sport and physical activity.

Durham was named The Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year in 2023.

Beijing 2008

Durham’s rowing programme inspired our three Olympians from the Beijing Games in 2008.

Stephen Rowbotham (Business Economics, Collingwood College, 2000-03) won a bronze medal in the men's double scull. This was the first British men's Olympic sculling medal since 1976 and the culmination of an exceptional three years in the double scull with Matt Wells.   

Louisa Reeve (Natural Sciences, Hatfield College, 2003-06) had already finished sixth in the final of the women’s pairs, when she stepped in for an ill teammate in the women’s eights, reaching another final and finishing fifth. Louisa, who was a former World University champion, had first represented her country in 2005. She has the rare distinction of having competed at two Olympic Games but in three finals, as she went on to reach the third at London 2012.

Rob Morgan joined Team GB as one of the women’s rowing coaches in the Olympics of 2008 and 2012, his team winning a silver medal on both occasions.

London 2012

When the Games came home in 2012, our rowing team provided Team GB with two great sportswomen and a gold medal.

Alongside Louisa Reeve making her second Olympic appearance in the women’s eights rowing team, our home Games saw Durham alumna Sophie Hosking MBE (Natural Sciences, Trevelyan College, 2004-07) winning a gold medal in the women’s lightweight double scull. To mark this, the rowing tank at Maiden Castle was named after her, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O’Brien welcomed her back to the facility last year to celebrate our Sports University of the Year accreditation, and to induct her officially into the Durham Hall of Fame.     

London also saw Durham athletes competing in Paralympic events, Lily van den Broecke MBE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics, University College, 2011-14) won a gold for Team GB as the cox in the women’s rowing team, and Gemma Collis (Law, St Cuthbert’s Society, 2011) competed in the wheelchair fencing. Gemma also competed in the Games in 2016 and 2020 and at the age of 31, has just returned from competing in Paris 2024.

Rio 2016

In the Rio Games in 2016, the Durham rowing baton was passed to the men with Angus Groom (Natural Sciences, Hatfield College, 2010-13) competing in the men’s quadruple scull - the quad finished fifth in Rio, having adjusted to a late crew change just days before the regatta began.

Will Fletcher (Sport, Health and Exercise, John Snow College, 2011-2012) rowed with Richard Chambers in the men’s lightweight double scull. The two finished seventh, winning their B final. Fletcher describes his Olympic experience as “a challenge like no other, but an amazing experience nonetheless.” Will is now Lead Rowing Coach at the University.

Durham’s James Harris (Sport in the Community, University College, 2004-07) joined the squad as a rowing coach with the women’s eight, who came away with a silver. This was the first ever Olympic medal for a GB women’s eight.   

In the 2016 Paralympics, Durham alumna Hazel Macleod (Environmental Geoscience, St Cuthbert’s Society, 2004-07) competed as a sight guide for Alison Peasgood in the PT5 event. Hazel is a para-triathlon guide working with visually impaired athletes; together they won the silver medal. Hazel partnered Melissa Reid in the Tokyo Olympics, finishing seventh.

Tokyo 2020

The Tokyo Games were delayed by the pandemic until July 2021, and we had one current and seven former students representing their countries at the Summer Games.

In hockey, Collingwood College’s Fiona Crackles was a bronze medallist as part of the Team GB women’s hockey squad. Fiona graduated from her Sport and Exercise Sciences degree this summer and competed in Paris this year.

She was joined by Jack Waller (History, College of St Hild and St Bede, 2015-18) and Ollie Payne (Sport, Health and Exercise, Josephine Butler College, 2017-20) in the men’s hockey. Both Ollie and Jack have since competed in Paris 2024 in their second Games.

In rowing, Angus Groom went to his second Olympics, winning a silver medal at his second attempt. He was joined by Matt Rossiter (Biological Sciences, St Cuthbert’s Society, 2006-12), who finished fourth in the men’s four.

In the rowing coaching team, James Harris was joined by Dan Moore.

In fencing, Business School alumnus Eli Schenkel (MSc Management, Ustinov College, 2016-8) represented Canada.  

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