Olympic RingsCategoriesAnnouncement

#PathwaytoParis schedule: Watch Birmingham hopefuls in action

#PathwaytoParis schedule | Watch Birmingham hopefuls in action

Pathway to Paris – With over two months of action lined up across this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, keep track of all our hopefuls as they represent their country on the world stage 

The world’s eyes will fall on Paris with athletes, coaches, staff and volunteers playing their role in creating history at the 33rd edition of the modern Games.

The University of Birmingham will have more than 30 individual’s  taking part either competitively or within an official role at The Games.

The BBC remains the best place to watch and follow extensive coverage of Paris 2024 available on TV, iPlayer, Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app.

and here’s how you can keep track of how they are getting on….

Follow our athletes…

Athletics

Alumnus Imranur Rahman will run in the 100m for Bangladesh.

 

3 August
9.35am | Athletics – Men’s 100m Preliminary Round

10.45pm | Athletics – Men’s 100m Round 1

 

4 August
7.00pm| Athletics – Men’s 100m semi-final
8.50pm | Athletics – Men’s 100m final

 

Middle-distance runner and alumna Georgia Bell secured her Team GB spot at the UK Championships.

 

6 August
9.05am| Athletics – Women’s 1,500m Round 1

 

7 August
11.45am| Athletics – Women’s 1,500m Repechage Round

 

8 August
6.35pm| Athletics – Women’s 1,500m semi-final

 

10 August
7.25pm| Athletics – Women’s 1,500m final

 

4x400m relay athlete and staff member Hannah Kelly heads to her first Olympics with Team GB. Hannah is also an alumna of the University.

 

9 August
9.40am | Athletics – Women’s 4 x 400m Relay Round 1

 

10 August
8.22pm | Athletics – Women’s 4 x 400m Relay Final

Cycling

Silver 2022 Commonwealth games medalist and National Time Trial champion, alumna Anna Henderson joins Team GB’s Cycling team.

 

27 July

2.30pm | Cycling Road – Women’s Individual Time Trial

Hockey

Five UoB Sport alumni – Amy Costello, Hannah French, Lily Owsley, Flora Peel and Anna Toman – have been selected for Team GB’s hockey squad.

 

Current EDCAP scholar Hannah Pearce will join the South Africa Hockey team.

 

28 July
11.45am | Hockey – Women’s Pool B – Australia v South Africa
12.15pm | Hockey – Women’s Pool B – Great Britian v Spain

 

29 July
4.00pm | Hockey – Women’s Pool B – Great Britian v Australia
4.30pm | Hockey – Women’s Pool B – South Africa v Argentina

 

31 July
9.30am | Hockey – Women’s Pool B – South Africa v Great Britain

 

1 August
4.00pm | Hockey – Women’s Pool B – USA v Great Britain
4.30pm | Hockey – Women’s Pool B – Spain v South Africa

 

3 August
9.00am | Hockey – Women’s Pool B – Great Britain v Argentina
12.15pm | Hockey – Women’s Pool B – USA South Africa

 

5 August
9.00am – 9.00pm | Hockey – Women’s quarter-final matches

 

7 August
1.00pm| Hockey – Women’s semi-final match
7.00pm| Hockey – Women’s semi-final match

 

9 August
1.00pm | Hockey – Women’s Bronze Medal Match
7.00pm | Hockey – Women’s Gold Medal Match

Rugby Sevens

Former TASS scholar and alumna Heather Cowell is named in Team GB’s Women’s Rugby Sevens squad.

 

28 July
2.30pm | Rugby Sevens – Women’s Pool B – Ireland v Great Britain
6.30pm | Rugby Sevens – Women’s Pool B – Australia v Great Britain

 

29 July
1.00pm | Rugby Sevens – Women’s Pool B –Great Britain v South Africa
7.00pm – 9.30pm | Rugby Sevens – Women’s placing and quarter-final matches

 

30 July
1.30pm – 6.00pm | Rugby Sevens – Women’s placing and semi-final matches
6.00pm | Rugby Sevens – Women’s Bronze Medal Match

Swimming

Current student and Elite Dual Career Athlete Pathway (EDCAP) scholar Oliver Morgan, a five-time British Champion, makes his Olympics debut for Team GB Swimming.

 

28 July
From 10.00am – 7.30pm | Swimming – Men’s 100m Backstroke – Heats

8.32pm | Swimming – Men’s 100m Backstroke semi-final

 

29 July
8.29pm | Swimming – Men’s 100m Backstroke Final

 

31 July
From 10.00am – 7.30pm | Swimming – Men’s 200m Backstroke – Heats
8.37pm | Swimming – Men’s 200m Backstroke semi-final

 

1 August
7.37pm | Swimming – Men’s 200m Backstroke Final

Para Canoe

Reigning KL3 canoe sprint Paralympic champion and alumna Laura Sugar MBE will join Team GB.

 

6 September
Time TBC | Para Canoe – Heats

 

7-8 September
Time TBC | Para Canoe – Finals

Para Cycling

Sport Hall of Famer Lora Fachie OBE is also on her way to Paris, as the two-time Paralympic Games’ Pursuit Champion and multiple Para-Cycling World Championships medallist, joins the Para cycle team once again.

 

29 August – 1 September
Time TBC| Para Cycling Track – Finals

 

4-7 September
Time TBC| Para Cycling Road – Finals

Para Rowing

Alumni Annie Caddick and Josh O’ Brien have both been selected to represent Team GB in Para-Rowing.

 

30-31 August
Time TBC | Para Rowing – Heats

 

1 September
Time TBC | Para Rowing – Finals

Para Rowing

Current scholar Megan Richter and alumna Alison Peasgood has been selected in Team GB’s largest ever paratriathlon squad.

 

1-2 September
Time TBC | Para Triathlon – Finals

Read about all of our confirmed athletes, coaches and support staff in Paris at the link below. 

University official press release
CategoriesAnnouncement

#PathwaytoParis | Full list of athletes, coaches and support staff heading to Games

#PathwaytoParis | Full list of athletes, coaches and support staff

Pathway to Paris – With the 2024 Olympics starting this Friday on 26 July, there will be athletes competing for Olympic success, coaches ensuring that their athletes perform at their peak, and support staff helping the Games to run smoothly and effectively.

The world’s eyes will fall on Paris with athletes, coaches, staff and volunteers playing their role in creating history at the 33rd edition of the modern Games.

The University of Birmingham will have more than 30 individual’s  taking part either competitively or within an official role at The Games.

The BBC remains the best place to watch and follow extensive coverage of Paris 2024 available on TV, iPlayer, Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app.

and here’s how you can keep track of how they are getting on….

Confirmed Athletes

  • Current student and Elite Dual Career Athlete Pathway (EDCAP) scholar Oliver Morgan, a five-time British Champion, makes his Olympics debut for Team GB Swimming.
  • 4x400m relay athlete and staff member Hannah Kelly heads to her first Olympics with Team GB. Hannah is also an alumna of the University.
  • Five UoB Sport alumni – Amy Costello, Hannah French, Lily Owsley, Flora Peel and Anna Toman – have been selected for Team GB’s hockey squad, with current scholar Lily Walker on stand-by as part of the reserves.
  • Silver 2022 Commonwealth games medalist and National Time Trial champion, alumna Anna Henderson joins Team GB’s Cycling team.
  • Former TASS scholar and alumna Heather Cowell is named in Team GB’s Women’s Rugby Sevens squad.
  • Middle-distance runner and alumna Georgia Bell secured her Team GB spot at the UK Championships.
  • Alumni Annie Caddick and Josh O’ Brien have both been selected to represent Team GB in Para-Rowing.
  • Reigning KL3 canoe sprint Paralympic champion and alumna Laura Sugar MBE will join Team GB.
  • Current EDCAP scholar Hannah Pearce will join the South Africa Hockey team.
  • Alumnus Imranur Rahman will run in the 100m for Bangladesh.
  • Sport Hall of Famer Lora Fachie OBE is also on her way to Paris, as the two-time Paralympic Games’ Pursuit Champion and multiple Para-Cycling World Championships medallist, joins the Para cycle team once again.
  • Current scholar Megan Richter and alumna Alison Peasgood has been selected in Team GB’s largest ever paratriathlon squad.

Confirmed Coaches and Support Staff

  • Penny Briscoe OBE continues her role as Paralympic Team GB’s Chef de Mission, a position she has held since 2014 as well as being the Director of Sport for the team.
  • Sport Hall of Famer Emma Batchelor joins up with Team GB Hockey as Head of Performance Health for GB Hockey.
  • Former Paralympian and Athletics coach Dean Miller joins Team GB’s coaching staff as Athletics Endurance Manager for Paralympics GB.
  • Sport & Exercise Sciences alumnus Ollie Armstrong is Lead Physiologist for Athletics Canada.
  • Alumna, Olympian, and University of Birmingham Sport Hall of Famer Hannah England joins the media team, as stadium announcer for athletics.
  • Hockey umpire and alumna Hannah Harrison officiates matches across the tournament.
  • Physiotherapy alumna Emma Ferguson will join up New Zealand as the Men’s Hockey physiotherapist.
    Former University
  • Performance Lifestyle Lead Maimee Titmuss-Morris is the Paralympic Staff Wellbing Manager.

University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Tickell:

 

‘Sporting success is in our DNA at the University of Birmingham. We have supported the development of some outstanding athletes and coaches over many decades – particularly our Hall of Fame Game Changers. We wish all our students, staff and alumni taking part in the Paris Olympics every success this summer.’

University official press release
Lora Fachie and Penny Briscoe at the Sport Hall of Fame 2023 awardsCategoriesAnnouncement

Sport Hall of Famers heading to Paris Paralympics

Sport Hall of Famers heading to Paris Paralympics

PATHWAY TO PARIS – University of Birmingham Sport Hall of Fame inductees Penny Briscoe OBE and Lora Fachie OBE will play their role in ensuring success at next month’s Paralympics 2024. 

 

Following the inaugural launch of the University of Birmingham Sport Hall of Fame last year, two of our inductees will be doing all they can to ensure that Team GB come back with plenty of medals at this year’s Paralympics.

 

Penny Briscoe OBE continues her role as Paralympic Team GB’s Chef de Mission, a position she has held since 2014 as well as being the Director of Sport for the team.

 

As Paralympic GB’s most successful ever Chef de Mission, Penny has facilitated an environment in which both athletes and staff can thrive, and ensured that para-sport continues to develop nationally and internationally.

 

Fellow Hall of Famer Lora Fachie OBE is also on her way to Paris, as the two-time Paralympic Games’ Pursuit Champion and multiple Para-Cycling World Championships medallist joins the Para Cycle team once again.

 

Winning gold four years ago in Tokyo, she will be hoping once again to secure a podium spot as she continues to build an incredible legacy as a true Paralympic great.

 

The Paralympics in Paris this year will get underway on Wednesday 28 August following the conclusion of the Olympics, and marks the first time that France has ever hosted a Paralympic Games.

 

With more than 20 events taking place, 125 countries will be represented on the world stage with the Games coming to a close on Sunday 8 September.

Discover more about Sport Hall of Fame
CategoriesAnnouncement

Bell beat Muir to secure Olympic spot

Bell beat Muir to secure Olympic spot

PATHWAY TO PARIS – Middle-distance runner and alumna Georgia Bell secured her Team GB spot at the UK Championships in June by running an impressive 4:10.69 to Muir’s 4:11.59.

 

Bell spent several years away from running and working a demanding full-time job, so after becoming British indoor 1500m champion earlier in the year, finishing fourth at the World Indoors in March, and taking silver in the European Indoors in Rome last month, Bell seems to be on an impressive upwards trajectory. She told Runner’s World that she doesn’t take her success for granted:

 

 

 

 

‘I go into every race thinking I want to grab every opportunity, not taking anything for granted, and I’m not afraid – I’ll just go for it and whatever happens, happens.’

The National Champion will compete in the 1500m at her debut Olympic Games.

Josh O'Brien and Annie Caddick Para Rowing teamCategoriesAnnouncement

Paris Paralympics rowing dreams a reality

Paris Paralympics rowing dreams a reality

PATHWAY TO PARIS – Alumni Annie Caddick and Josh O’Brien (Economics) have been selected to represent Team GB at the Paralympics in Paris this summer. 

Both Josh and Annie started rowing in their second year of university, and Annie did so as the inclusivity of the sport, club and teammates appealed to her and made her feel equal, rather than focusing on her cerebral palsy. Annie achieved her Paralympic qualification at the 2023 European Championships where she won bronze, was crowned European Champion in 2024, and will compete in the PR3 mixed double sculls in Paris.

Josh, who started rowing as an alternative to football following an injury, made his GB Rowing debut at the European Championships 2024, taking home the gold. He announced his selection as part of the PR3 mixed coxed four on Instagram earlier this month, crediting the University of Birmingham rowing club for making his dream a reality.

‘Being officially selected to represent Great Britain at Paris 2024 in the PR3 mix4+is a dream come true. Without the help of University of Birmingham rowing club and Mosley Boat Club none of this would have been possible, thank you.’

Ollie Armstrong Athletics Canada Lead Physiologist #PathwayToParisCategoriesAnnouncement

The team behind the team at Paris: alumnus Ollie Armstrong

The team behind the team at Paris: alumnus Ollie Armstrong

PATHWAY TO PARIS – Sport & Exercise Science alumnus and former staff-member Ollie Armstrong will take the role as Lead Physiologist for Canadian Athletics at this summer’s sporting event.

 

Ollie has Birmingham in his blood, having done both his undergraduate and Masters degrees on campus and then coming back as a staff member for six years before happening on a job role with Canadian Cycling that eventually gave him a pathway to Paris. Now working for Athletics Canada, Ollie will be working with both the Olympic and Paralympic squads at the Games, and says it’s been an exciting dream come true.

 

‘It’s pretty surreal [to be involved in the Olympics]… It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid and to follow it through all the way, and do a degree and a Masters and then 12 years working in professional sport, to get to a moment to support athletes all the way through to a Games is pretty special.’

As Lead Physiologist, Ollie works with the athletes on strategies for things such as helping with the acclimation to the heat and cooling, and building common ground and relationships in a way athletes can take on board and turn it into something that means something to them – like winning medals.

Ollie was the Lead Physiologist for UoB Sport & Fitness and says his time at Birmingham was both wonderful and challenging, and helped shape the direction he was going to move in.

‘I’ve worked with different athletes across lots of sports, and this exposure has really shaped my thinking, how I approach things, how I practise, and I’ve worked with so many talented athletes and coaches and practitioners – it’s opened so many doors.’

Ollie is also working alongside fellow alumnus Simon Nathan, a Birmingham graduate who is now the High Performance Director for Athletics Canada.

Anna Henderson Cycling #PathwayToParisCategoriesAnnouncement

Inaugural Olympics for alumna Anna

Inaugural Olympics for alumna Anna

PATHWAY TO PARIS – National time-trial Champion and alumna Anna Henderson will join the 30-strong cycling squad heading to Paris for this summer’s Olympics.

Alumna Anna graduated in 2022 with a First in Sport & Exercise Science – the same year she won silver in the Time Trial at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. This year, she takes to the start line for Team GB in Paris with seasoned Olympian Lizzie Deignan, Pfeiffer Georgi and Anna Morris as part of the Women’s Road Race squad. Descried as a ‘brilliant cyclist’ by Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England OBE, Anna had a successful Time Trial season – not only being crowned the National Time Trial Champion of 2024,  regaining her title, but winning silver at the British Road Race Championships last month, despite having to recover from a crash where she fractured her collarbone in May. A real trooper, and hopefully that grit and determination will continue to drive Anna over the finish line at her first ever Olympics!

Laura Sugar MBE Paracanoe KL3 #PathwayToParisCategoriesAnnouncement

Third Olympics for reigning Paralympic champion Laura Sugar MBE

Third Olympics for reigning Paralympic champion Laura Sugar MBE

PATHWAY TO PARIS – Reigning KL3 canoe sprint Paralympic champion Laura Sugar MBE will join Team GB this month for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

As a seasoned Paralympian and three times World Champion, the pressure of competing at the world’s most important sporting events must be second nature to University of Birmingham alumna Laura Sugar. But Sugar’s sporting career hasn’t always been in paracanoe, which showcases her incredible natural sporting talent.

 

Sugar has clearly had sport in her blood from a young age. After training as a PE teacher at the University of Birmingham in 2014, and starting her international sporting career as a hockey player for Wales, Sugar competed at Rio 2016 in Athletics, securing a fifth place, and then started Paracanoe in 2018. Just three years later, she then went on to win Gold at Tokyo 2020. As a reigning Paralympic and a multiple world champion, we hope this year is another success for her and the team.

A total of around 230 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris, and we are so proud of Laura for being a part of this formidable squad. Good luck Laura!

Dean Miller Athletics, Endurance and Performance CoachCategoriesAnnouncement

Dean Miller to be Team GB’s Athletics Endurance Manager for Paris 2024

University of Birmingham’s Dean Miller to be Team GB’s Athletics Endurance Manager for Paris 2024

PATHWAY TO PARIS – Alumnus and current UoB Athletics team coach Dean Miller will be joining Team GB as part of the Paralympic coaching team for Paris 2024. As a Paralympian from London 2012 and European medallist over 1500m (T37), Dean will surely be a key member of the support team, and we can’t wait to see how the athletes fare under his tutelage.

Dean’s connection with the University began in 2007, where he did both an undergraduate and Masters degree, and he then stayed to train as a Sports Graduate when he made the Paralympic Games in 2012, where he competed on home soil at London 2012.

 

Following his successful competing career, Dean moved into coaching a number of years ago with immediate success. Dean now works with the British Athletics Para-Futures programme, and is helping to support athletes with their challenges in disability sport, as well as being a point-of-contact for the Talent Hub endurance athletes. His work at the University guides young adults into being more responsible and educated humans, as well as enhancing and advancing their athletic credentials. 

Dean is currently the Athletics Endurance Manager for the University of Birmingham club.

Hannah Kelly 4x 400m GB PathwayToParisCategoriesAnnouncement

Student, staff member, sprinter: Hannah Kelly heads for Paris

Student, staff member, sprinter: Hannah Kelly heads for Paris

PATHWAY TO PARIS – Hannah Kelly, known to us on campus as Law graduate and part of the Campus Services Car Parking team, has been selected as part of the 4x400m Relay Squad going to Paris for the 2024 Olympics!

Announcing the selection for her first ever Olympics on Instagram earlier this month, Hannah said her selection is  a ’dream come true’.

‘It’s been a tough few years on and off the track, but moments like this make everything worth it.’

Hannah secured a Bronze at the World Indoor Athletics Championships earlier this year as a pivotal part of Team GB’s Women’s 4x400m relay squad. This was her first World Championships and since then Hannah has gone from strength to strength, helping the relay team qualify for the Olympics in May, and making up part of the 4x400m relay team for Britain at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome. We can’t wait to see what Hannah can achieve at her first Olympics!