Outstanding success at the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games plus the visit of sporting and actual royalty ensured that the University of Bath’s 50th anniversary was celebrated in fitting style during 2016. When the University received Royal Charter status on October 25, 1966, there were no sporting facilities on the Claverton Down campus. Five decades later, it has developed into what Director of Sport Stephen Baddeley believes is “the most vibrant, exciting and dynamic sporting...
University of Bath graduate Heather Olver has announced her retirement from badminton after an excellent career which saw her win three Commonwealth Games medals and represent Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Olver studied Coach Education & Sports Development from 2004 to 2007, with her time at the University being bookended by two memorable successes – team bronze with England at the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games and victory with Bath in the prestigious...
Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medallists are among the University of Bath-based athletes and alumni shortlisted for this year’s Bath Chronicle Sports Awards. Paul Blake, who won gold and silver at the Paralympic Games, is in the running for Disability Sports Performer of the Year along with training partner Sophie Kamlish, who set a new world record in Rio – both are coached by Rob Ellchuk at the Sports Training Village. Also shortlisted are badminton player...
Staff, families and friends of Team Bath’s new partners MJ Church got active during a fabulous Fun Day at the University of Bath Sports Training Village on Saturday. Hundreds of people of all ages tried their hands at a variety of sports including athletics, badminton, boccia, fencing, judo, tennis and skeleton on the unique outdoor push track. There were also inflatables, climbing walls and zip wires for have-a-go youngsters to enjoy while their parents enjoyed...
Athletics legend Colin Jackson returned to his former University of Bath training base on Wednesday to officially open the extensively-refurbished Team Bath Gym. The double World 110m hurdles champion was joined by gym members, University of Bath staff and representatives of Matrix Fitness UK – the company that has kitted out the gym with new state-of-the-art equipment – as he cut a Blue and Gold ribbon in the Sports Training Village facility. “It gives me great...
University of Bath graduate Heather Olver finished her Rio 2016 Olympic Games on a high note as she and Lauren Smith won their final ladies’ doubles match. Defeats to tough opponents from Malaysia and Indonesia in their opening Group C matches meant Olver, a Coach Education and Sports Development graduate, and Smith could not qualify for the next round. However, they got the victory their performances deserved when they beat Lok Yan Poon and Ying...
Nearly 2,000 people of all ages got into the Rio spirit on Saturday when they enjoyed a wide range of sports and activities during an Olympic-themed Family Fun Day at the University of Bath Sports Training Village. Free have-a-go sessions in athletics, badminton, fencing, martial arts, tennis and trampolining proved to be massively popular, as did the chance to experience life as a performance athlete through health and speed testing. Children collected stars as they...
Badminton player Heather Olver and rower Vicky Thornley have become the latest athletes with University of Bath connections to be selected by Team GB for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Olver (pictured left), who studied Coach Education and Sports Development at the University, will continue her successful women’s doubles partnership with Lauren Smith in Rio after being named in an eight-strong badminton squad. A three-time silver-medallist at the Commonwealth Games, Olver was coached by Peter...
University of Bath sporting scholar Alex Lane is celebrating his first senior international call-up after being named in the Badminton England squad for next month’s Thomas Cup in China. The competition – also known as the World Men’s Team Championship – is regarded as the biggest badminton event outside of an Olympic Games and features the world’s leading players. Host nation China has won the title nine times, a record only bettered by Indonesia, and...
Natasha Starling was named as the University of Bath’s Sports Personality of the Year during a great night for tennis at the annual Blues Awards ceremony. The Business Administration student topped a poll of members of the Students’ Union Sport from a shortlist that also included fellow tennis player Alex Walker, swimmer Jay Lelliott and archer Lizzy Rees. She was presented with her award by the University of Bath Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell (pictured)....
