New challenge for sporting scholars as former Team Bath Netball quartet secure Super League contracts for 2025 season relaunch

University of Bath sporting scholars Jayda Pechova and Sophie Kelly will continue their Netball Super League journeys with Nottingham Forest and London Pulse respectively, it has been confirmed today. Alumna Tash Pavelin will join fellow Vitality Roses defender Pechova at the newly-launched Forest franchise for the 2025 campaign, while Bethan Dyke has rejoined her hometown club Cardiff Dragons. All four were key members of the Team Bath Netball squad for the 2024 Super League season,...

04 September 2024

Sabre silver takes Piers Gilliver’s career medal tally to five at start of busy week of wheelchair fencing in Grand Palais

Wheelchair fencer Piers Gilliver won the fifth medal of his glittering Paralympics career to date when he secured Category A sabre silver in the stunning surroundings of the Grand Palais on Tuesday. It was a first Paralympic medal with the weapon for Gilliver - whose previous medals in Rio and Tokyo had come in the epee individual, and epee and foil team events - and was the perfect start to his campaign for four podium...

04 September 2024

Third Make a Move! is biggest yet as young people under care of Bristol Children’s Hospital enjoy day of sporting fun at Team Bath

The third annual Make a Move! event proved to be the biggest and best yet as more than 100 young people under the care of Bristol Children’s Hospital enjoyed a host of accessible sports and fun activities. The Team Bath Sports Training Village was once again buzzing as youngsters and their families had a go at archery, athletics, badminton, ball sports, boxing, judo, kin-ball, mini golf, rowing, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and much more. Team...

03 September 2024

Silver lining for para-badminton player Dan Bethell after dramatic final while para-triathlete Michael Taylor places sixth in Paris

Bath para-badminton star Dan Bethell won the second silver medal of his Paralympic Games career as he was narrowly edged out in a dramatic men’s SL3 singles final. An absorbing encounter saw Bethell recover from losing the opening game, then rally from 19-16 down in the decisive third game before saving a match point to serve for the gold medal at 21-20. However, opponent Kumar Nitesh of India managed to take the next three points...

02 September 2024

Magnificent seven ready to write their own chapters in this summer’s Paris sporting success story

Paralympians who train at the University of Bath are heading to Paris determined to write their own chapters in this summer’s sporting success story. Seven athletes from four sports – Dan Bethell (para-badminton), Suzanna Hext (para-swimming), Michael Taylor (para-triathlon), and Gemma Collis, Dimitri Coutya, Piers Gilliver and Oliver Lam-Watson (wheelchair fencing) – have been selected to represent Britain when the Games take place from Wednesday 28th August to Sunday 8th September. Defending Category A epee...

19 August 2024

Sporting scholars on the podium in Paris as Bath-associated athletes write their names into the history books

University of Bath-associated athletes finished with two gold medals, three silver, one bronze and a host of historic achievements from the Olympic Games after two weeks of outstanding competition in Paris. Four of the medals were won by current or former Bath sporting scholars, with (pictured top, from left) swimmer Tom Dean, artistic swimmer Kate Shortman, judoka Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz and rower Becky Wilde all having been supported by the University as they pursued their dual...

14 August 2024

Former Bath sporting scholar Imogen Allison joins Queensland Firebirds for 2025 and 2026 Suncorp Super Netball seasons

Former Team Bath Netball star and University of Bath sporting scholar Imogen Allison will play professionally in Australia in 2025 and 2026 after signing for Queensland Firebirds. Allison, who developed into one of the world’s leading mid-courters during her seven years in Blue & Gold from 2016 to 2023, was player of the year when Team Bath reached the 2021 Super League Grand Final. She was also a key figure when England won a historic...

12 August 2024

More history for scholar Kate Shortman as she and artistic swimming partner Izzy Thorpe win groundbreaking Duet silver

Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe made history once again when they won Great Britain’s first-ever Olympic medal in artistic swimming. The pair produced outstanding Technical and Free routines in the Aquatics Centre in Paris, on Friday and Saturday respectively, to secure a stunning silver in the overall standings. Their latest success follows on from the breakthrough World Aquatics Championships medals won by the duet in February 2024, as well as Bath sporting scholar Shortman’s historic...

10 August 2024

Thrilling silver completes set of global medals for swimmer Ben Proud as hockey player Tim Nurse is added to GB men’s squad

Ben Proud added an Olympic medal to his collection of 50m freestyle silverware after narrowly finishing second in a thrilling contest at the Paris La Defense Arena tonight. Tom Dean also raced in his third final of the week, placing fifth in the 200m individual medley behind home favourite Leon Marchand. Proud, who is a member of the University of Bath Swimming Club, has won World, Commonwealth and European gold but fell just short of...

02 August 2024

Alumna Becky Wilde savours “incredible” medal moment after winning ‘surprise’ double scull rowing bronze at Olympic Games

Becky Wilde admitted it would “take a while to sink in” after her first season of senior international rowing competition was capped by a brilliant bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Wilde, who is a member of the Bath University Boat Club, and partner Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne were paired together in the women’s double scull in March and only secured their Paris place through the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in May. They continued to...

01 August 2024