Latest news from Loughborough University
| 27 June 2008 | PR 08/95 |
Loughborough duo confirmed for Beijing triathlon team
Loughborough student Will Clarke and University-based athlete Tim Don have today been officially named in Britain’s triathlon team for the Beijing Olympics.
The pair, who will be joined in China by Loughborough-bound Hollie Avil, achieved the qualification criteria at the Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup in Spain last month (May 25), both finishing top six at the international event.
Former world and European U23 champion Clarke is set to make his Olympic debut, while 2006 world champion Don will be appearing at his third consecutive Games.
Clarke was the top-placed Brit at last year’s Beijing test event, finishing 7th, and is looking forward to returning to the course.
“I love the course in Beijing and did well there last year,” he said. “I’m going to the Olympic Games with that in mind and hope to have another great race.”
Seasoned performer Don, who has shown massive improvements since finishing 18th at the Athens Olympics, is aiming for top three this time round.
“I am looking forward to my third Olympic Games and believe that can aim for the podium in Beijing,” he said.
International and European Junior Champion Avil, who is planning to start
a degree at Loughborough next year, has only raced over the Olympic distance
four times and at just 18 years old she will be one of Team GB’s
youngest athletes in Beijing.
“At the start of the year I only expected to be going to Beijing
as part of the BOA’s 2012 Olympic Ambition Programme, but it’s
been an amazing year and now that I am going as an athlete, I certainly
want to make the most of it,” said Avil.
The trio are part of a five-strong triathlon squad confirmed for Beijing.
For more information see http://www.olympics.org.uk/beijing2008
-ENDS-
For all media enquiries contact:
- Amanda Overend, Sports PR Officer, Loughborough University,
T: 01509 228686, E: A.J.Overend@lboro.ac.uk
Notes for editors:
- Loughborough is one of the country’s leading
universities, with an international reputation for excellence in teaching
and research, strong links with industry and unrivalled sporting achievement.
It is a member of the esteemed 1994 Group – a set of internationally recognised, research intensive universities – and has a reputation for the relevance of its work. Its degree programmes are highly regarded by professional institutions and businesses, and its graduates are consistently targeted by the UK’s top recruiters.
Loughborough is also the UK’s premier university for sport. It has perhaps the best integrated sports development environment in the world and is home to some of the country’s leading coaches, sports scientists and support staff. It also has the country’s largest concentration of world-class training facilities across a wide range of sports.
In the 2007 National Student Survey, the University was voted fourth in the UK, with 23 out of 29 of Loughborough’s subject areas being ranked in the top ten for overall satisfaction. Loughborough is also ranked in the top fifteen of UK universities in national league tables. It was named winner of the 2006 and 2007 Times Higher award for the UK’s Best Student Experience and winner of the 2007 award for Outstanding Support for Overseas Students. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been awarded six Queen's Anniversary Prizes – an achievement bettered by no other university.