REDBRICK SPORT PER ARDUA ALTA
THE LION OLYMPIC SPECIAL
ISSUE 6 | April 2012
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THE LION
Editorial Information Executive Editor Glen Moutrie Editors in Chief Sam Price Raphael Sheridan
Editorial Assistants Victoria Bull James Phillips
Deputy Editors Owen Earwicker James Dolton
Photographers George Killick Meurig Gallagher Charlotte Wilson Millie Guy
Online Editor Chris Hutchinson
Illustrations Elin Stone
Art Director and Front Cover Alexander Blanchard
Copy Editor Lexie Wilson
THE LION
April 2012
WELCOME TO THE LION
The Lion would like to thank: Tim Smith UBSport Published by Redbrick in association with and part funded by UBsport Designed and typeset by Thomas Walters. Copyright (C) Redbrick 2011 Redbrick strives to uphold the NUJ Code of Conduct. The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the Editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication. To contact us: Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TU 0121 251 2462 editor@redbrickonline.co.uk www.redbrickonline.co.uk Redbrick is printed through www.quotemeprint.com: 08451 300667. Advertising: Contact Aimee Fitzpatrick in Guild Marketing on 0121 251 2524 or a.fitzpatrick@guild.bham.ac.uk
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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Hello everybody, Welcome to the sixth edition of The Lion, Redbrick Sport's biannual pullout. On the cusp of London 2012, we have provided an Olympic special. The University of Birmingham is of pivotal importance to the 2012 Games, as it plays hosts to the prodigious Jamaican athletics team for their pre-Games training camp, which we explore on page eight. The University has also produced some Olympic hopefuls of their own, including the likes of Hannah England and Louise Hazel, who we have profiled on pages four and five. In addition to the Lion, an Olympic microsite is to be launched on the Redbrick website as we continue to raise the bar with our sports coverage. We hope you enjoy the issue. Sam Price Raphael Sheridan
@redbricksports
Millie Guy
VPS Tim at the Bournbrook rugby pitch Welcome to this year’s second edition of The Lion, your biannual eight page colour pull-out focusing exclusively on sport. Last year we achieved an outstanding second place in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rankings, behind only Loughborough. We’re likely to fall slightly this year; this was always likely as our performances last year were simply exceptional, and some other institutions have dramatically increased funding for sport this year. However, whatever our final result all of our student athletes in every sport can be thoroughly proud for representing their University, and doing
the best they can possibly do. We had our fair share of heartbreak in this year’s BUCS Championships. Both women’s Hockey and women’s Lacrosse lost out by one goal in their respective Championship finals. Our swimming team got more personal bests and an overall better team time than last year, yet fell down the rankings. However, we also secured medals in many sports including Judo and Karate, plus our first ever points in Mountaineering. Away from the Championships themselves, both Triathlon and Cycling have continued to improve year-on-year with their points haul for the University, whilst there is
also continued achievement within our non-BUCS accredited sports; Lifesaving have won their National Championships, American Football reached their fourth consecutive UK Universities Bowl final and Ice Hockey have risen from a quiet few years to give a strong showing at their recent Nationals. Not only did our Cheerleading squads win their Future Cheer national event, but have also represented UoB on Soccer AM and in the opening titles of Britain’s Got Talent. These are just a few of the fantastic achievements made by our clubs this year, and there are so many more. I simply haven’t got space to
mention them all, but we will do our best to celebrate them all fully in the upcoming Sports Ball and Awards evening. Our University, with help from myself, staff and countless volunteers, continues to give strong support for sport at every level. This is exemplified by the work this year increasing participation sport through the ‘Get Involved’ Sports Fair, through the building of a new £55million sports facility which aims to inspire all students to get active regularly, and through the commitment to nurture new sports clubs set up by students through the Guild. We can be exceptionally proud of this commitment which gives all students opportunities to partake and excel in sport. This edition also looks forward to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which obviously need no introduction. It will be an honour to host the Jamaican track and field team for their pre-Games camp in July, and I am very glad that many students have taken up opportunities to get involved in the camp itself. Furthermore, best of luck to all of the University of Birmingham alumni competing in the Games; we wish you every success.
Tim Smith
VP Sport vps@guild.bham.ac.uk
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April 2012
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Mixed fortunes for Brum at BUCS At the back end of last term, from 14-18th March, Birmingham's best teams and individuals descended upon Sheffield to compete in the prestigious British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships. There were mixed fortunes for Brum, as the two big hopes, the women's hockey firsts and women's lacrosse firsts fell agonisingly short in their respective championship finals. However, there were also significant success stories, notably the men's squash, whose first team took a silver medal and second team took gold. Brum's collective performance leaves them fifth in the BUCS standings approaching the end of the season.
Current Standings 1 Loughborough 2 Durham 3 Bath 4 Leeds Met 5 Birmingham 6 Edinburgh 7 Exeter 8 Manchester 9 Nottingham 10 Oxford
Women's Hockey Bidding for an unprecedented third consecutive championship title, the women's hockey firsts succumbed 2-1 in the final to Durham. Two goals down at half-time, Brum dominated the second half and pulled a goal back through Kirsty Dawson but couldn't force the equaliser, and would have to settle for silver.
Women's Lacrosse A titanic final saw the women's lacrosse firsts fall heartbreakingly short as they went down 10-9 to Cambridge having led 9-8 with just minutes remaining. Hat-tricks from Kirsten Lafferty and Alice Bruynseels were not enough for Birmingham as the score changed hands regularly, with Cambridge seizing the initiative when it mattered most.
Track Cycling On the weekend of the 24th March the University's cycling club took to the Newport Velodrome in Wales, coming first with 68 points. Star of the show was Ciara Horne, who set a new student record when taking gold in the women's 3km individual pursuit. Lara Nyman and Laura McCormack also impressed, taking silver in the team sprint.
Men's Squash The men's squash teams completed a remarkable season with
some stirring performances at the BUCS Finals. The firsts dumped out Loughborough in the semifinal before putting up a brave fight against a star-studded Bristol UWE, who beat them narrowly to take gold. The seconds went one better however, and retained the BUCS Trophy with an imperious 5-0 win in the final.
Badminton An excellent season for the badminton club had seen both the men and women's first teams earn their place in the Championship finals, where stiff opposition awaited them. The men went down to a strong Loughborough, while the women succumbed to an impressive Leeds Met. Alyssa Lim and Andrew Wainwright were among the top performers for Brum on the day.
Climbing The University's climbing team secured a fantastic result in Sheffield to come sixth overall. James Kay, who narrowly missed out on a medal, and Annie Byass were among the impressive performers. Captain Alex Dexter said: 'I am really proud of the team as they have lived up to their potential and could not have offered any more.'
Martial Arts There were plenty of outstanding performances from Birmingham competitors in the Judo and Karate individual competitions. It was
Chris Gann and Annie Smith who took the glory in the judo, both of them picking up silver medals for the under 81kg low and under 70kg low categories respectively. Jacob Hawkins did the best of the karateka to take bronze in the 84kg category having won two matches with Mawashi Geris (roundhouse kicks) to the head and another on a judge’s decision.
Men's Volleyball Birmingham men’s volleyball team capped off their season by finishing fifth in the BUCS Championships, an improvement on last year's seventh. After initial defeats against Loughborough and Edinburgh, Brum ended on a high with two victories against Southampton and Bournemouth.
Fencing Only a handful of Birmingham fencers reached the finals, with the men and women's teams crashing out at the last 16 stage. There were strong showings from Pascal Delaney and Maxwell Rowe-Hayes, but the stand-out performance came from Rosie Davies, who claimed bronze in the épée contest.
For full reports and photos of all the action go to www.redbrickpaper.co.uk/bucs
Medals
Gold Ciara Horne (Cycling) Men's Squash 2nds (trophy) Silver Men's Squash 1sts Women's Hockey Women's Lacrosse Chris Gann & Annie Smith (Judo) Lara Nyman & Laura McCormack (Cycling, team sprint) Swimming 2nds Bronze Jacob Hawkins (Karate) Rosie Davies (Fencing)
The BUCS Championships in photos
George Killick: Lacrosse & Cycling
Meurig Gallagher: Volleyball
Charlotte Wilson: Fencing & Climbing
Alumni aiming
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redbrickpaper.co.uk
HANNAH ENGLAND Frankie Conway Sport Writer
Ex-University of Birmingham university student Hannah England will be meticulously fine-tuning her preparation ahead of London 2012 as it draws closer. After her spectacular outing at the 2011 World Championships last summer, where England picked up a hard-earned silver medal in the 1500m, the spotlight will be on the Oxford-born athlete to deliver another stellar performance at the Olympic Games. Her plan to this point has been executed with calculated
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mount importance for a middle distance runner to possess the ability to shift through the gears in the final stages of a race. England has this weapon in her locker, as demonstrated in Daegu last August, and will be looking to implement more speed-orientated sessions into her programme in the coming weeks. One of the biggest obstacles the defending UK 1500m champion must overcome between now and the Games is the expectation levels she carries on her shoulders since her world championship exploits last year. But England is well equipped to deal with this pressure. The experience s h e
Name: Naomi Folkard Degree: Music (2005) Discipline: Archery Bio: The 28-year-old, who has been shooting since she was seven and began competing internationally at 13, has been a competitor at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. She won the double World Cup gold in 2007 and was unlucky not to earn a medal in Beijing. A talented violinist and pianist, she regularly plays in the University of Birmingham Orchestra in her spare time.
Name:
Luke Gunn Degree: BSc Sports and Material Sciences (graduated 2006) Discipline: 3000m Steeplechase Bio: In July 2011, Gunn won the UK National Champion title for the third year in a row. The 27-year old is currently on a 12 month sabbatical from his role as University of Birmingham Sport Scholarship Manager to focus on his bid to make the GB team for London 2012.
Name: Susie Gilbert Degree: BA Geography (2012) Discipline: Hockey Bio: 22-year-old Gilbert is a regular fixture on the women’s Great Britain hockey squad. She is part of their programme based at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, where the team train together four times a week. In 2010 Susie won three bronze medals with England hockey for the Champions Trophy, World Cup and Commonwealth Games. She also won two BUCS Championship titles with the University of Birmingham team.
Illustrations by Elin Stone precision. England has attended two UK Athletics training camps in Kenya and seems to be in fine physical shape. The Briton demonstrated the benefits she gained from these camps when claiming the 3000m UK indoor title in February, giving her an ideal endurance base from which to work from. Along with her highly regarded coach, Bud Baldaro, England will now be carefully tailoring her programme according to the specific demands of the 1500m event. It is of para-
gained from Daegu last summer; dealing with the rounds, staying even tempered, as well as remaining utterly focused on her own performances, will have given her valuable experience that she will no doubt apply in London. Also, the Biochemistry graduate is under no illusions as to the strength of her competition and the enormity of the challenge ahead. This will allow her to implement the same ‘under the radar’ mind-set that she adopted so successfully in Daegu and will ease some of the pressure she places on herself. With a world medal already to her name, England will arrive in London with a spring in her step and seems well poised to deliver another strong performance in the biggest tournament of her career.
Name: Dean Miller Degree: BA Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Sciences (2011) Discipline: Track Mixed Bio: In 2011 Miller not only completed his final year of study, but competed in the IWAS World Junior Championships (800m bronze, 1500m gold), Paralympic World Cup (800m 6th) and German National Paralympic Championships (800m silver). The experience will stand him in good stead for the games.
Name: Vicki Hawkins Degree: PhD Chemical Engineering (2010) Discipline: Water Polo Bio: The 27-year-old was born and raised in Birmingham and has been playing water polo since she was 13. She has been in the England elite squad since 2007 and was in the team that received a bronze medal at the 2011 Four Nations. As well as her PhD, she is studying for a Graduate d i ploma in Law.
LION Name: Simon Mantell Degree: BCom Commerce (2007) Discipline: Hockey Bio: Mantell has had a successful career with GB and England hockey, collecting 116 international caps since his debut in November 2005. He was member of the England hockey squad which came fifth in the 2006 World Championships. The 27-year old forward currently plays for Reading hockey club.
for London 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
April 2012
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LOUISE HAZEL
James Phillips Deputy Editor
Name: Pamela Relph Degree: BSc Physics (2011) Discipline: Rowing Bio: Relph was part of the team that took two gold medals in 2011 at the World Cup in Munich and the World Championships in Slovenia. In her time at Birmingham, she also captained the University’s award-winning cheerleading squad the Birmingham Pussycats.
Louise Hazel has certainly come a long way since she finished seventeenth in the Heptathlon as a fresh-faced 20-year-old at the 2006 European Championships. The French Studies alumnus rocketed onto the world scene when she claimed the gold medal for England in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. In an inter-
Now 26, Hazel is arguably entering her prime as an athlete, and is only a year younger than her inspiration Denise Lewis was when she claimed gold at the Sydney Olympics back in 2000. The Southwark-born athlete will be looking to surpass the favourite, her rival
Name: Lora Turnham Degree: BSc Physiotherapy Discipline: Cycling Bio: Along with her sighted pilot Bex Rimmington, Lora has taken the ParaCycling world by storm. In 2011 she won silver in both the Para-Cycling World Cup and Para-Cycling Track Championships. Her achievements are all the more impressive considering the she only began her sporting career in 2009 after being talked into trying cycling by a close friend.
Name: Julian Adeniran Degree: LLB Law (2010) Discipline: 110m Hurdles Bio: The reigning BUCS Championship gold medallist for 110m Hurdles has designs on competing at London 2012. The former VP Sport set new personal bests over 60m Hurdles in the indoor season, and now turns his attentions to qualification for the Olympics.
Name: Non Stanford Degree: BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences (2010) Discipline: Triathlon Bio: Stanford began competing in Triathlon in 2008 following an injury from cross-country running, where she turned to swimming for rehabilitation. By 2009 she was a top triathlete and won her first bronze medal at the 2010 Premium European Cup in Brasschaat, Belgium.
view with R e d b r i c k S p o r t shortly after her success, she described it as a dream coming true and a ‘surreal experience’, but if she is to land an Olympic medal this summer then it will surely surpass all previous achievements. Hazel cited the University of Birmingham’s academics as a major reason for studying here and after graduating she continued to work in the Munrow sports centre as a sports scholarship assistant and mentor. The mental strength she has displayed in balancing her studies, sport and social life is certainly a major plus for somebody competing in one of the most difficult Olympic sports, consisting of seven individual events; 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin and 800m. Hazel has gone on the record saying ‘us British girls mean business’ and she won’t be one to shirk the challenge when the Heptathlon finally gets underway at the Olympic Stadium on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th August.
Jessica Ennis, who i s the current European and former World champion, as well as being the poster girl for 2012 Games. That will take some doing, but Hazel remains focused as she enters the crux of her preparation. She tweeted: 'I feel in great shape. Will be off to a training camp in May to add the final touches'. If she goes into the Olympics on top form then she may well achieve that coveted place on the podium and make the University of Birmingham an extremely proud institution.
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THE LION
April 2012
A TALE OF TWO ATHLETES
'I
Every athlete has a story. Sam Price talked to elite-level cyclist and 2016 Olympic hopeful Ciara Horne about her optimism in pursuit of her dream. Raphael Sheridan caught up with the University's idiosyncratic Judo coach Fitzroy Davies whose story highlights how the Olympic dream can become a nightmare.
started with him interviewed him after a lightwhen he was 15,’ hearted training session. We said Fitzroy Davies, get on to the subject of Beijing coach to Olympian preparations. athlete and former ‘The year leading up to World Judo Champion Craig the games they had Craig Fallon. ‘He wasn’t a black belt, next to this other guy trybut we were working together ing to qualify, and it until he retired the other day.’ was unsettling him. ‘Why has he retired?’, I All he needed was asked. Fallon is 29 years old and to sort out strateought to be in his prime. Lon- gies and plan, but don 2012 was made for such an no, they had us athlete, and I was not expecting running around what followed. Europe and the ‘He didn’t get on with the World. It came people who were in charge of the to Austria where British Judo Association (BJA) he had to win, but and his performance in Beijing then his head was (where he finished 7th) played gone, but he was on his mind. He’s a complex already qualiperson, and once something fied! I went gets into his head, that’s it. If with him to they had changed the organisa- Beijing and tion then maybe we’d be talking his mental about Craig going to London.’ state was ‘What do you mean?’ not good. ‘He didn’t get on with the per- When he formance staff. They said to us, went to Cairo ‘You’ve got to move to Dartford’, in 2005 (when he won the and forced us there. He was the World Championship, it was a most senior player in the whole different atmosphere and that British team and it was where was just me him. At the 2008 the BJA and Sport England put Olympics, it wasn’t OK.’ some money in there - £5m or After being tipped for medal so - but the town is a white ele- success before Beijing, Fallon phant and after these games I'm finished in seventh place in the sure it’ll close.’ -60kg category; a gutting result Underneath the glossy for such a promising athlete. frontier of success, and behind ‘He has bad blood with them the slick PR emanating from now,’ says Davies when asked London in the run-up to 2012, how Fallon feels, ‘the Olympics there’s a worrying sense that were always his dream. When all is not well behind the scenes he was a kid, he had the rings with Judo. I ask him about tattooed on his shoulder. That’s Sport England, the body who where his dream was. In London, supply funding to the BJA and he’d have been in his prime, but who have become increasingly the system broke him.’ Davies powerful in Judo. The answer finds himself now, in his words comes back very quickly. 'We all ‘frozen out of the BJA.’ know everyone needs funding, We move on to talking about but there’s a balance and Sport Britain’s 2012 prospects, albeit England are running the show with slightly less optimism than for British Judo. Just the other before I began speaking to him. day, they took £350,000 off the ‘Oh, I’d love a British player BJA.’ to win in London at the OlymDavies is one of the best judo pics, I really would,’ he assures trainers in the business. Born me, ‘but the British team have and bred in Wolverhampton, he got the Euros this weekend and is a fifth dan and has been teach- you’ll see from that; make your ing at the University’s club for own decisions from it. They’ve years. His thirty left it so late years of trainfor the players ing, you’d hope, to start getting would count for themselves presomething in pared for 2012; the run-in to an come the OlymThe Olympics were Olympic games. pics, our play‘Sport Engers could end up always his dream... land have been fighting world involved in Judo champs. That’s for quite a bit of the problem.’ In London, he’d time. I was told We’re comhave been in his by Clive Wooding to the end prime, but the sysward, ‘This is of our conversayour team’, tion. I can’t help tem broke him. and I ended up but ask whether working for anhe’ll be watching other 20 peothis summer. ple. Before Bei‘I may be jing, Craig was watching James World Champion. Then they Austin. He went to the Universaid, ‘no, this is how we’re going sity of Birmingham’ And Craig? to do it’ and when it goes wrong ‘I don’t think Craig will be the first person they blame is the watching it.’ coaches.’ As we part, I’m left with a Davies is controlled sobering thought as the nation throughout the session, but heads towards its moment of there’s an intensity to his words glory in the summer: not every that weren’t there last time I athlete is enjoying the ride.
C
Olympic Experience Davies coached Craig Fallon to the Beijing Games
THE OLYMPICS: MAKE OR BREAK
Future Olympian? Horne has her heart set on Rio 2016 after missing out this year
ycling is fast be- ‘I had surgery on my shoulder coming one of the and could never have regained most popular British the strength to train at that elite sports. In the past level, so I had no choice but to decade it’s been the take on another sport, as the recipient of increased funding Olympics is my dream.’ Horne from UK Sport and the National tried triathlon at the University Lottery and has reaped the re- of Birmingham, linking up with wards, leading to a record haul coach Steve Lumley, but a lack of 14 medals at the Beijing Olym- of fondness for running compics while also producing two bined with a succession of inSports Personality of the Year juries led her to decide it wasn’t winners in Chris Hoy and Mark for her, and she handed back her Cavendish. At the University scholarship. A year later she was of Birmingham, winning BUCS despite being a medals in a relatively small completely new club, cycling is gosport, cycling. ing from strength ‘After an eighth Talent only gets to strength, as month break shown in the Britsport, you so far. To get from ish Universities felt like a the top of your which and Colleges Sport lifetime, I took (BUCS) Track game it's about how up cycling, so I Championships effectively hard you're going was last month when starting from to work to achieve scratch. I got the squad topped the university into it and comyour goals. charts, gaining 68 peted in BUCS in BUCS points. This my first year and was in no small managed to pick part down to the up a few medals, exploits of scholar Ciara Horne, which was a surprise. After less who won two gold medals: one than a year cycling I was picked in the women’s scratch race, and up the Ireland squad and I endone even more impressively in ed up taking a year out to focus the 3km individual pursuit, in on qualifying for the Olympics, which she smashed a track re- so it all happened very quickly.’ cord that had stood for nearly Sadly for Horne Ireland 13 years, crossing the line in missed out on qualification, so 3:46.581, over ten seconds fast- her dream will have to be put er than the previous record. In on hold as she sits out London Horne the University have a su- 2012. I asked her what sepaper prospect on their books, and rates Olympians from other aththe second-year physiotherapy letes. ‘The athletes that will be student believes she can go even competing in the Olympics will faster. undoubtedly be nervous as the ‘I caught rival Corinne Hall Olympic Games are the pinnacle on the eighth lap and started of any athlete’s career. However celebrating which cost me some these athletes will have years of time, until I thought ‘keep going international experience and will you idiot!’ and got back into it. know how to deal with the presIf I hadn’t pratted about I could sure. They have very good sports have got a much faster time, so psychologists on board their next year I’m hoping to destroy team to help them with this. I the record!’ Horne added to her think to reach the top you’ve got medal haul last weekend with to be very single-minded, driven victory in the BUCS 10 mile time- and focused and, personalitytrial (TT), which represented a wise, Olympians are different. less familiar distance than her Talent only gets you so far. To favoured 3km. ‘I was happy get to the top of your game it’s with that, to be hon- about how hard you’re going to est I’ve never paced work to achieve your goals; how a 10 mile TT so much you want to be the best.’ badly in my life, The University have been I went out way very supportive of Horne, allowtoo hard and ing her longer placements for was suffering her physiotherapy degree which for the last eight allows her to balance it with her miles. I think I rigorous training schedule. She could have ridden is also sponsored by Birminga minute quicker, ham-based Brotherton Cycles, but to pace it like who provide her with top of the a donkey and range specialized bikes and kit, still win shows and she cites Rebecca Milnes as how much I’ve a big influence within the coachcome on!’ It ing set-up at Birmingham. Havcertainly has, ing an outside support network and the attitude is crucial in making your way as of perfection- an elite athlete, but to the reach ism is a refresh- the very top you must possess a ing one, which will special formula, and Horne’s insurely stand Horne ner drive is remarkable. When in good stead as she quizzed on her career aspiraplots her route to the top tions, she replied without hesiof the sport. tation, ‘Olympic gold.’ If she Her story is an interest- builds on her serene progress ing one, having been a prodigal as a cyclist so far, Ciara Horne swimmer until injury forced could well be a name to look out her retirement at the age of 16. for in future Olympics.
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BOLT
THE LION
April 2012
In July, the world's best sprinters head to the University to train ahead of the Olympics. James Dolton assesses the impact that it
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will have on the University, on Birmingham, and on UB Sport...
BRUM
ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce
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The reigni n g Olymp i c gold medallist over 100m yet, surprisingly, she's the only Jamaican woman in history to hold the title. In the 2009 World Championships, she bettered her Olympic time of 10.78 by five one hundredths to set her current
EXCLUSIVE James Dolton Lion Deputy Editor
In less than one hundred days time, the Olympic games will have begun. Athletes from countries all over the world are flooding in to take part in London 2012, and while many will be based in the Athletes' village in Stratford, many more have elected to locate themselves elsewhere in the country. Competition for the best bases is fierce, both between the national teams involved and for the sites themselves: it is a mark of high prestige to be selected by an Olympic team. This process pace in 2012. of seYet he is a genle cuine threat, tion especially in the
personal best time. In October 2010, she was suspended for six months after taking inappropriate medication for toothache. Coming in to the 2011 World Championships, her preparations were stalled through injury, and she finished fourth in the final, missing out on a medal by just one hundredth of a second. Veronica Campbell-Brown took the silver, but Fraser-Pryce's main He is the youngcompetitor is doubtless est man to break the gold medallist, Amerthe ten second mark, ican Carmelita Jeter. and Blake pulled off a Should Jeter remain huge upset when he injury free, a fasciwon the 2011 100m nating 2012 race World Championawaits. ship gold medal. 200m He had it easier, where he mind, after Bolt has posted false-started. His the second fastest 100m time is fastest time 9.82 seconds, signifever (19.26 cantly slower than seconds). the present world Another porecord, and potential uptentially half a set is on second off the cards. 100m t h e in 9.4 seconds, and the 200m in 19 seconds. If he were to accomplish that, his legendary status would be comfortably achieved. To put that The 400m hurdler is the presinto context, the present world reent World and Olympic gold 'If I cords, held by Bolt, are 9.58 seconds and medallist, and the time domi19.19 seconds. For Bolt to run 9.40 secshe posted in the 2009 n a t e onds, it would require him to cover almost World Championship is t h e 10.5 metres a second. the second fastest time OlymYet, before he is adorned too quickly, ever set in the 400m hurp i c s , a word of caution. Despite displaying an d l e s . However, she lost out to I'll be a almost effortless aura of calm in previous American Lashinda Demus in last living races, Bolt spectacularly false-started in year's World Championship, who legend. last year's 100m World Championship posted the third fastest time A living final: the gold medal went to fellow Jaever in the event. legend maican Yohan Blake. That, perhaps, is walking the first chink in what was previously turned around. a virtually impenetrable armour. His Veronica out to be a S o u n d s performances in the 200m last year relative coup for good.' Bolt, it were predictably world-class, Campbell-Brown Birmingham, seems, simply and his 2011 World ChampionCampbell-Brown is virtuboth the city needs to turn up ship time of 19.40 seconds is ally unstoppable in the and the Unito guarantee himthe fastest time ever to be 200m. She won the event versity, as two self a gold medal. a world record. in both the 2004 and 2008 of the stronHis intention is Olympics and in Beijing ran gest sporting to run the the fastest time recorded nations in the in a decade. Unsurpis- world elected ingly, she's the Asafa Powell to base their reigning world athletics comHas held the Kerron Stewart champion too, petitors here. 100m world record At the Beijing having beaten The city in general for three years Olympics, Stewart Carmelita Jeter by 0.15 saw the boost of the between 2005-08 won the silver medseconds. American sprint team, and has run under 10 al in the 100m and studded with reigning seconds a record breakbronze in the 200m. world champions Jesse Wiling 75 times. Yet 2012 She has also posted the liams (high jump), Jennifer Simprepresents his final fastest 100m time son (1500m) and Carmelita Jeter chance to achieve an ever to win (10.75 (100m), choosing to train at the Olympic medal. seconds). International Athletics Stadium in the Perry Barr area of town. However the University of Birmingham
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itself landed perhaps the most attractive prospect of all when the mighty Jamaican track team agreed to base themselves on the University of Birmingham campus. The spotlight will be on the newly re-laid Munrow Track this summer when some of the most recognisable names in the world of athletics will be put through their paces ahead of the Olympics. These include 100m champion Yohan Blake, 200m champion Veronica Campbell – Brown and arguably the most famous sports star on the planet, Usain Bolt. Bolt is a man born for the world stage. From his penchant for outrageous poses and his natural ease in front of a camera (check out his star turns in the Virgin Media or MasterCard adverts) down to his spectacularly apt surname, he is such a recognisable face that it is surprisingly easy to forget the real reason for his fame: his incredible pace. He recently declared in interview that his intention was to run a time of 9.4 seconds in the 100m. This would knock two tenths of a second off his own World Record time of 9.58 and is a full 1/3 of a second faster than where the World Record stood at when he first broke it four years ago. This claim may seem preposterous, but where 'Lightning Bolt' is concerned, anything seems possible. There is no doubt that it will be exciting to see such athletes gather here on our own campus. But there are other, more quantifiable benefits involved: the athletes and their entourages will be eating, sleeping and living in the local area. These will all provide a welcome bolster for our local economy as well as enhancing the international reputation of the city and the University. The deal to bring the team here was signed in February 2010 by City Councillor Mike Whitby, who spoke of his delight at continuing the 'special relationship' between Birmingham and Jamaica. Birmingham has always been a capital of multiculturalism and has links with a huge number of different countries and communities, but one of the most notable of these has always been Jamaica. Famous Rastafarian poet Benjamin Zephaniah grew up in the Handsworth district of the city, and later described it as 'the Jamaican Capital of Europe'. It is perhaps partially a nod to this legacy that Birmingham was picked. But this is the Olympics, the pinnacle of athletic competition, and there is no way that a team would risk damaging their preparation for such a momentous occasion simply to 'commemorate their heritage'. That the University of Birmingham is regarded as a training venue of Olympic quality is testament to the hard work of the UB Sport team (who incidentally boast Olympic hopeful Luke Gunn as their Sports Scholarship Manager) and is something that every student at this University can be rightly proud of.