Twelve Commonwealth Games medals for University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham alumni and students became sporting heroes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham – they secured a total of 12 medals.
Current student Lily Walker and five alumni – Hannah Martin, Holly Hunt, Anna Toman, Lily Owsley and Flora Peel – were part of Team England’s gold-winning women’s squad that defeated Australia to claim victory at the Commonwealth Games for the first time.
The University of Birmingham Hockey Center provided an iconic backdrop for their victory and all six players had previously played on the same pitches, representing the university in British university and college sport and national league ice hockey.
The university’s pioneering reputation in ice hockey also helped win medals for Team England’s men’s team when 2013 graduate Nick Bandurak returned. They narrowly missed out on a place in the final after losing 3-2 to Australia, beating South Africa 6-3 and securing the bronze medal with Nick as England’s top scorer.
Hockey graduates Hywel Jones and Dewi Roblin also competed for their home nation, Team Wales, who finished sixth, their best-ever Commonwealth Games result. The squad beat Ghana 6-1 only to be beaten by finalists India in the next round.
Team Wales’ women’s team also featured alumni Holly Munro and Xenna Hughes, who secured eighth place. Current Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation student Amy Costello finished sixth in the women’s ice hockey event as part of Team Scotland.
University of Birmingham students also won medals in judo competition. Current business student and sports scientist Lachlan Moorhead prevailed against stiff competition to win the University of Birmingham’s first-ever Commonwealth Gold medal for Team England.
Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation student Rhys Thompson won a bronze medal for Team England in the -100kg category at his first Commonwealth Games.
Congratulations to all our students and alumni on their sporting success at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Everyone at the University of Birmingham is immensely proud of what our campus, staff and athletes have achieved during this landmark summer of sport.”
Andy Allford, Director of Sport at the University of Birmingham
Judokas Lauren Semple and Yasmin Javadian represented Jamaica and Northern Ireland respectively. Lauren reached the 63kg bronze medal match, narrowly losing a medal, but sports scientist Yasmin took bronze in the 52kg category for Northern Ireland.
Cyclist Anna Henderson, currently a Sports, Exercise and Rehabilitation student, won silver in the women’s individual time trial before putting in an exceptional performance in the women’s road race later in the week.
Non Stanford, ITU World Triathlon Champion in 2013, secured the silver medal for Team Wales in mixed triathlon and also competed in the women’s triathlon event, finishing sixth.
In addition to the 12 medalists, the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham featured students and alumni from the University of Birmingham in several competitions. There were also alumni who worked as trainers and tutors.
MSc Economics alumna Gemma Atherley made history for Team Jersey by becoming the first female swimmer to reach a Commonwealth Games 200m backstroke final. Gemma drove an exceptionally good race and finished eighth.
Sports, Exercise and Rehabilitation student and high jump athlete Laura Zialor reached the final and placed eighth for Team England in their first Commonwealth Games and second major championship.
Alumnus Imran Rahman was selected to represent Bangladesh in the 100 meter sprint and Biomedical Science alumna Hannah Leighton competed on the netball court for Team Scotland. Their classification game against Northern Ireland ended in a 43-33 win and finished ninth overall.
Alumna Heather Cowell opened the Birmingham 2022 Rugby Sevens competition with Team England with a stunning 57-0 win over Sri Lanka. The team finished fifth overall.
Current physics student Muqtadir Nimji competed with Team Kenya in the squash competition and reached the semi-finals of the men’s singles plate competition.
University of Birmingham Director of Sport Andy Allford commented: “Congratulations to all our students and alumni on their sporting success at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Everyone at the University of Birmingham is immensely proud of what our campus, staff and athletes have achieved during this landmark summer of sport.”