Team Cambridge The CAM guide to the student and alumni athletes hoping to compete at the London 2012 Olympics
CAM at London 2012
Citius,altius, fortius Team CBG has competed at every Olympics since 1896 and won over 170 medals. This year alumni in sports from athletics to rowing are hoping to take part in London 2012 – often in addition to academic studies, jobs and families. Celebrate their achievements so far and follow their journey to the Olympics in this special guide and online at alumni.cam.ac.uk/olympics.
Dr Claire Hallissey
ATHLETICS Olympic Stadium, Stratford, London
Julia Bleasdale
AUG
03 College: Pembroke 2000 Subject: Engineering Competition: 10,000 metres
Julia Bleasdale hasn’t yet been selected for London 2012, but it’s now a strong possibility. She ran in the 10,000m at Stanford, California in April with a time of 31 minutes 29 – making her number one in the UK and the fifth-fastest British woman ever. “As long as three women don’t manage to run faster than me, I’ll have one of the three spots that are up for grabs in the 10,000m,” she says. Go Team CBG! Olympic medals won since 1900
A potted history of sport at Cambridge From the banning of football to the planned Sports Centre, sport has always played a central role in University life. To find out more about Cambridge’s Olympic history or 2012’s hopefuls, visit alumni.cam.ac.uk/olympics.
1
Julia Bleasdale
1900 Paris 5 gold, 1 bronze
1908 London 10 gold, 6 silver, 13 bronze
1579
1827
1829
A town versus gown football match at Chesterton ends in a violent brawl, leading the ViceChancellor to issue a decree forbidding students to play "footeball” outside College grounds.
The Cambridge cricket team is the first sports club to take part in a Varsity match against Oxford.
A meeting of the University Boat Club requests that Mr Snow of St John’s write to Mr Staniforth of Christ Church to challenge that University to “row a match at or near London, in an eight-oared boat during the ensuing Easter vacation.”
1912 Stockholm 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze
CAM at London 2012
Andrew Baddeley
AUG
03 College: Caius 2000 Subject: Engineering Competition: 1500 metres
Andy Baddeley is Britain’s top metric miler, an Olympic finalist in Beijing in 2008 and a World Championship finalist in Osaka in 2007. The first British male 1500m runner to make a world final in 10 years, Andy is also a European and Commonwealth finalist.
Phyllis Agbo
AUG
03 College: Trinity 2004 Subject: Natural Sciences Competition: Heptathlon
Phyllis Agbo has fond memories of training at Cambridge. “In those days the track didn’t have floodlights. So if you wanted to train late in the afternoon, you had to do it in the dark!”
Dr Claire Hallissey
Work is well under way on the most significant sports facility development in the University’s 800-year history. On 1 May, construction began on the Cambridge Sports Centre – a world-class facility for recreation, training and competition. When it opens next year, it will bring hundreds of athletes and spectators, across dozens of sports and activities, together under one roof. Artist’s impression “The Sports Centre will make a tremendous difference to the Olympic hopefuls of the future,” says Kyle Coveny, the University’s associate director for sports development. “But importantly, the facilities will be open to the entire University community, giving everyone an opportunity to participate.” The University has allocated £10m from central funds towards the development of the Sports Centre. www.sport.cam.ac.uk
Louis Persent
AUG
Emma Perkins
AUG
09
09 College: St John’s 2008 Subject: Architecture Competition: 400 metre relay
College: Newnham 2004 Subject: History and Philosophy of Science PhD student Competition: High jump
AUG
05 College: Robinson 2001 Subject: Natural Sciences Competition: Marathon
At the London Marathon, Dr Claire Hallissey set a new personal best of two hours, 27 minutes and 44 seconds – thereby winning selection for London 2012, where she will compete alongside Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi.
1920 Antwerp 11 gold, 6 silver
A new Sports Centre
A year out of Cambridge, Louis Persent says he is trying not to think too hard about being an Olympic hopeful. “I know that if I work hard and race well I can make the team. There are lots of runners in my position, all needing to make just a small improvement to gain selection. So that is where my focus lies.” And while the 2016 Olympics might make more sense in terms of career development, Persent says “when something like this is happening 50 miles from your house, you don’t want to miss out!”
1924 Paris 7 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze
As one of the UK’s top student athletes, Emma Perkins has already jumped at the Olympic Stadium. She competed in the British University Championships in May – the first competition at the venue – where she finished second. Her target now is to jump the Olympic “B” qualifying standard of 1.92m. Her personal best is 1.89cm. She says: “If I can continue to improve, I can get there. There’s still time, so I’m going to keep working hard.”
1928 Amsterdam 7 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze
1932 Los Angeles 2 gold, 1 silver
1848
1867
1872
1879
1882
Fourteen students at Trinity devise the definitive “Cambridge rules” for football, which would be adopted by the Football Association in 1863.
The Queensberry Rules of Boxing, written by John Graham Chambers (Trinity) and sponsored by the 9th Marquess of Queensberry (Magdalene), are published.
The Hawks’ Club is founded.
The National Ice Skating Association is founded by fellows from Trinity and Peterhouse, the president of the University Skating Club, a local vicar, a magistrate, two MPs and the city’s mayor. Its initial task is the regulation of fen skating.
Football is the first sport to stage a Cuppers-style competition.
2
CAM at London 2012
CYCLING Hampton Court, London
Emma Pooley
AUG
01 College: Trinity Hall 2001 Subject: Engineering Competition: Road time trial
“I didn’t really get into cycling until my fourth year at Cambridge. I entered the National Road Race Championships and came fourth, which was unbelievable.
My first proper international race was in Brittany just after I graduated. I could not believe how hard it was at the time. But it was very satisfying when I went back to the same race three years later and won. I moved to Switzerland to do a PhD in 2005 and worked full-time in research while trying to race with a Belgian team at weekends. I’m very fortunate in that my PhD supervisor is Professor Sarah Springman, and she has been hugely supportive of my cycling career. It’s only thanks to her that I have been able to juggle research and cycling. Going to the Beijing Olympics was exciting because I didn’t even expect to be selected, and then I won silver in the time-trial event. There’s more pressure
going to your second Olympic Games because you’ve got more experience and you obviously want to perform better than last time. It would make me really proud to race for Great Britain on home soil.”
DIVING Aquatics Centre, Stratford, London
Emma Pooley
Stacie Powell
Stacie Powell
AUG
08 College: Churchill 2009 Subject: Astrophysics PhD student Competition: 10 metre platform
Diver Stacie Powell feels completely at home in space – whether that’s during a triple somersault or while studying the Milky Way at the Institute of Astronomy. Powell just missed out on the 2004 Olympics, placing third in the trial – only the top two divers were selected. “I was determined not to let this happen again,” 1936 Berlin 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze
1948 London 3 gold, 11 silver, 1 bronze
1952 Helsinki 1 gold, 3 bronze
1890
1890
1895
The Hare and Hounds Varsity Match is abandoned when competitors lose the paper trail and are unable to get back on course.
Louisa Lumsden (Girton) brings lacrosse to Britain after observing the sport in Quebec.
The Grange Road sports ground is purchased for £4,300.
3
1956 Melbourne 1 gold
CAM at London 2012
she says, “and all my extra hard work paid off when I won the trial qualifying for Beijing in 2008.” At her Olympic debut, Powell was placed eighth in the synchronised dive and 10th in the platform dive. Her focus is now on a place in this year’s Olympics, even while juggling her training with a PhD in Astrophysics at Churchill College. “I am currently training in the gym and the pool twice a day, six days a week,” she says. “The training is so intense; you push yourself as far as you can physically go. I often read papers when I have a spare minute at the pool. The internet helps a lot, so I can do my work from anywhere, even when I am away at competitions.”
Annie Lush
SAILING Sailing Village, Portland, Dorset
Annie Lush
JULY
29 College: Emmanuel 1999 Subject: Geography Competition: Women’s Elliott 6m
Annie Lush rowed in the winning crew of the 2001 Women’s Boat Race, before turning her passion for sailing into a fulltime career. She has sailed with a number of professional teams from small keelboats to super yachts, and has been part of three Women’s Match Racing World Champion crews. She is the powerhouse of the women’s match race team, sailing in the middle of the boat, bringing technical skill and experience.
1960 Rome 1 gold, 2 silver
1964 Tokyo 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
1968 Mexico City 3 gold
1906
1921
1924
Brothers Laurie and Reggie Doherty (both Trinity Hall) claim their eighth Wimbledon doubles championship. Over their careers the pair chalk up nine Wimbledon singles championships and seven Olympic medals.
The first ladies Varsity swimming event is held. Distances are half those of the men’s events and the competition includes style swimming and diving.
George Mallory (Magdalene) perishes whilst attempting to climb Mount Everest. Controversy has raged ever since as to whether he reached the summit or not.
1972 Munich 2 gold
4
CAM at London 2012
ROWING
Tom James
Eton Dorney, Buckinghamshire
Tom James MBE
JULY
30 College: Trinity Hall 2002 Subject: Engineering Competition: Men’s four
“People assume that I must have had Olympic dreams since I was a teenager, but it was only when I was trialling for GB, and got selected for the senior squad, that I realised I could go for it. It was the year before Athens, so I knew that if I made the boat, I’d be in with a good shot for the Games. That was in my first year at Cambridge. I was rowing with seasoned athletes, some of whom had been to the Olympics, and my learning curve was very steep. I think that as a sportsman, the best way to learn is with other athletes, rather than just from coaches. And there are only two places in the world that offer an environment like that to rowers: Oxford and Cambridge. Being a rower and studying at the same time is one of the most difficult things you could ever do. You’re combining so many different things. Now my life is tailored just to rowing, there’s more training; but I have free time in the afternoon to relax and recover for the next day. Everyone’s talking about the Olympics, but at the end of the day, you just have to see it as another race. Hopefully I’ll be able to get focused on the Games and aim for a gold medal. That’s what we’re here to do.”
1976 Montreal 4 silver
1980 Moscow 2 silver
1984 Los Angeles 2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze
1992 Barcelona 8 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
1925
1927
1927
1953
1958
1976
1981
The Light Blues are victorious in the first Rugby fives match against Oxford, winning 392-103.
Lord Burghley (Magdalene) is reported to have completed the Trinity Great Court Run. The feat is shown in Chariots of Fire but the film’s version of events was disputed by Lord Burghley.
The first women’s boat race takes place as an exhibition event judged purely on style – the two crews are not permitted to be on the river at the same time.
Varsity Football takes place at Wembley Stadium for the first time.
Herbert Elliott (Jesus) breaks the mile world record, going on to break the 4-minute record on 17 occasions.
The Cambridge University Karate Club is founded.
Cambridge begins a 24-year winning streak in the rifle shooting Varsity match.
5
CAM at London 2012
Annie Vernon
JULY
Jake Cornelius
JULY
28
Silas Stafford
JULY
28
28
College: Downing 2001 Subject: History Competition: Women’s eight
College: Emmanuel 2006 Subject: Engineering Competition: Men’s eight
College: Caius 2008 Subject: Geography Competition: Men’s pair
Annie Vernon began her rowing career at Castle Dore Rowing Club, inspired by her father who had also rowed. She won a silver medal at Beijing in 2008 in the women’s quadruple sculls. On winning, she says: “When you win, first it’s a relief not to have messed it up, then the happiness and joy sink in.”
“My first taste of rowing came at a local festival in February 1999. Cornell’s rowers brought some ergometers along. I tried one and thought: ‘This is really good.’ When you’re 15 and good at something, you feel good about yourself, and that experience really stuck with me. It’s the reason why I enjoy assisting with similar events in the community now. I spent four years at Stanford and then went to Cambridge largely to row, as well as being keen on the engineering programme. Rowing has a much higher profile in Cambridge than in the US, which I found very exciting, and the calibre of athletes was excellent, allowing me to train with Olympic gold medallists such as Kieran West. With rowing, it’s very much the case that you get out what you put in. Part of becoming a better rower therefore involves finding out how to put more into it. Not in terms of the time you spend on the rowing machine, but the sheer level of mental focus you can achieve. It’s something you build, layer by layer, so I feel as if I’ve always been preparing for the Olympics, from 15 to Cambridge. I’m really looking forward to getting a performance that validates the work we’ve put in. If you win at the end of the journey, it means every loss had a meaning. There’s the feeling of crossing the finish line when the race is over and it doesn’t hurt any more; then it sets in over weeks, and indeed years for the major wins, and becomes a bigger part of who you are.”
Silas Stafford says that he realised he wanted to take rowing further while at Cambridge. Now hoping to row for the US he says: “Winning a medal will mean we’ve been successful, and winning gold would be very successful. But come fourth and you may as well be 10th.”
George Nash
JULY
28 College: St Catharine’s 2008 Subject: Engineering Competition: Men’s pair
The newly elected Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) President says that competing at the Olympics is a long-held ambition. “At Cambridge, I wanted to see how good I could be. Last year I rowed in a pair with Oxford’s Constantine Louloudis and made the national team. Once I’d done that, I decided to go for it, take the year off and give it my best shot. At the moment, I start training at 7.30am and get home around 3 or 4pm. The British rowing team has an amazing setup and provides you with every opportunity to be the best you can,” he says. “I enjoy the feeling of rowing: being on the water, going as fast as possible and racing against other people. I’m looking forward to competing against the best in the world.” 1996 Atlanta 5 gold, 3 silver
2000 Sydney 2 gold, 3 silver
Ryan Monaghan
JULY
28 College: St Edmunds 2007 Subject: Economics Competition: Men’s pair
Ryan Monaghan says winning the pair at the 2010 World Rowing Championship Trials is his most memorable sporting achievement to date – but that one day he hopes to win an Olympic gold medal. He is now a senior on the US team.
Deaglan McEachern
JULY
28 College: Hughes Hall 2008 Subject: History Competition: Men’s pair
Known as the CUBC President who captained the Blue Boat to victory in 2010, Deaglan McEachern says: “Winning breeds winning,” he says. “When you lose, you only know how to lose.”
2004 Athens 2 silver, 2 bronze
2008 Beijing 1 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze
1985
1998
2008
2010
2011
2012
The first Light Blue female cox, Henrietta Shaw (St John’s), takes part in the Boat Race.
The inaugural Varsity cross-channel relay race takes place – the only university swimming race across the Channel. Both teams reach France within two minutes of each other and, in line with competition rules, the race is declared a draw.
The men’s volleyball team represent GB at the European Universities Volleyball Championships in Italy.
PhD student Thomas Piachaud (Fitzwilliam) reforms the Cambridge Pythons American Football Team.
Lucy Gossage (Newnham) wins the Ironman 70.3 Ireland and the TriGrandPrix in Spain.
It is announced that the Women’s Boat Race will take place on the Tideway (on the Thames in London) from 2015; planning permission is granted for the West Cambridge University Sports Centre.
The Ospreys Club is founded.
6
CAM 2012 at the Olympics
Rod Chisholm
JULY
Peter McClelland
29
JULY
30
Anna Watkins
JULY
30
College: Downing 1992 Subject: Natural Sciences Competition: Men’s lightweight double sculls
College: Pembroke 2009 Subject: Management Competition: Men’s four
College: Newnham 2001 Subject: Natural Sciences Competition: Women’s double sculls
Having already competed at Beijing in the men’s lightweight four, and won gold at the 2011 World Rowing Championships in the lightweight men’s eight, Rod Chisholm has secured a place on the Australian team and is sure to be gunning for a medal at London 2012.
Peter McClelland was in the Canadian national team system before he came to Cambridge, but the Cambridge rowing culture still bowled him over. “CUBC is an incredible team,” he says. “In my Blue Boat (2010), all of us had rowed for our countries at some level and most aimed to row for our home teams in 2012.”
“I first rowed in Michaelmas term 2001 as a novice at NCBC [Newnham College Boat Club].The weather was bad all term, so we had more crew formal halls than outings. It was the perfect introduction because the other rowers became my closest friends. Rowing at Cambridge was a magical time. Bumps is an inspired race format and I miss it. I have no idea how we coped with such a short, narrow, twisty and overcrowded river. I remember ‘ergs’ in the boat bay at 6am and beautiful summer evening paddles at 9pm, complete with angry swans. I made a very definite decision to become serious about rowing at Cambridge. I had a good physiology for the sport, thanks to the persistence of the two NCBC coaches, but I ignored this for a while, because I didn’t want a change of lifestyle and I was aware there would be an impact on my studies. But I couldn’t ignore the opportunity and in 2002 threw myself completely at the task of climbing the mountain from chubby novice to international competitor. At the moment we are on a camp in Italy, doing three sessions each day plus physiotherapy, video reviewing and planning and technical meetings. The biggest challenge is constant tiredness. If I'm not exhausted all the time, I'm not training hard enough – which has a crippling effect on the rest of my life. I am looking forward to being in the middle of the race and to those six minutes where I have the power to make it happen.”
Anna Watkins
Supporting Team Cambridge Who will you be cheering for? Tell us at cam.ac.uk/olympics and be entered into a prize draw to win an exclusive Cambridge sports mug from cult designer Anna Railton (Pembroke 2007) .
www.cam.ac.uk/olympics 7
To find out more about Cambridge at the Olympics or to tell us about your sporting experiences visit our website, follow CARO on Facebook or join the debate on Twitter – @caro1209 #camolympics.