It was a glorious summer for Team GB Para Cycling athlete and alumna Lora Fachie (BSc Physiotherapy, 2010). She came home from the Tokyo Paralympics with two gold medals (alongside guide Corrine Hall) and a further silver, while Laura Sugar (PGDipEd Physical Education, 2014) also topped the podium with gold in the Para Canoe 200m.
Other Birmingham Paralympians included powerlifter Ali Jawad, who finished sixth in the Men's 59kg, while Alison Peasgood (BSc Physiotherapy 2009) and guide Nikki Bartlett (BSc Sports, Physical Education, and Coaching Science, 2008) finished fourth in the Para Triathlon, just missing out on a medal despite their sprint finish.
In the Olympics, we saw three graduates earn bronze medals as part of the British Women’s Hockey Team: Anna Toman (BSc Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Science, 2014), Hannah Martin (BSc Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Science, 2016) and Lily Owsley (BSc Sport and Exercise Science, 2019).
Current Biochemistry student Oliver Dustin made his Olympics debut for Great Britain in the 800m but did not progress beyond the heats; British women's archer Naomi Folkard (BMus Music, 2005) appeared in her fifth Olympics, placing 8th in the mixed team event and joint 9th in the women's team event, while rower Peter Purcell-Gilpin finished 20th for Zimbabwe in the Men's Single Sculls.