Information on Loughborough

Silver and bronze for largest ever Loughborough contingent

Posted on 28/12/2008

Loughborough University Website

Silver and bronze for largest ever Loughborough contingent

Loughborough collected silver and bronze at the Beijing Olympics as a 48-strong University group represented four nations in six different disciplines at the world’s most prestigious sporting event.

Swimmers David Davies and Joanne Jackson secured the honours for Loughborough; Davies swimming to silver success in the 10k open water marathon and Jackson winning bronze in the 400m Freestyle behind Britain’s double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington, who trains with the University’s swim programme three times a week.

Loughborough was also represented in athletics, hockey, triathlon, canoe and badminton, as the University’s best made it to 19 Olympic finals, lowering two European and 15 British Records in the process.

Agonisingly close to Olympic honours were Loughborough quartet Lisa Dobriskey (athletics - 1500m), Martyn Rooney (athletics 4x400m), Goldie Sayers (athletics javelin) and Kate Haywood (swimming 4x100m medley). All finished fourth in their respective events, missing the podium by less than two and a half seconds and just 38cm in total.

A large contingent of Loughborough staff and graduates were also in Beijing for the Games, in coach and support staff roles and on behalf of national governing bodies. Nations represented include Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and Korea.

Beijing is the latest in a long line of major Games involving Loughborough University athletes. Its students have been in action at every summer Olympics since the last London Games in 1948, and at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Loughborough athletes won 30 medals overall, including eight golds, which would have placed the University eighth in the medal table.