Celebrating sporting success

Professor Patricia Price, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience and Academic Standards, has hosted a celebratory event to congratulate all the students who competed at the Commonwealth Games this summer.

The eight students were all supported by the University's High Performance Programme (HPP) which supports the sporting and academic careers of talented aspiring athletes while raising the standard of sport at Cardiff University.

Five of the eight athletes were able to attend the event which was organised in conjunction with the HPP induction event for the 65 students who are on the programme this year.

Professor Price said: "After a wonderful year of sporting achievements, I wanted to ensure we had an opportunity to offer special congratulations to all the athletes who did so well at Glasgow. I am overjoyed and full of pride for them and their successes."

Head of Cardiff University Sport, Stuart Vanstone, said: "After considerable investment four years ago the High Performance Programme was rebranded and restructured to concentrate on an athlete centred approach."

"This investment has resulted in considerable improvements in levels of achievement and created an environment in which student athletes can develop and excel whilst in Higher Education. In the Delhi 2012 Commonwealth Games no current Cardiff University students competed and four years later eight members of the HPP represented Team Wales in Glasgow. This is a fantastic achievement and one the University should be really proud of."

Paul Jones, Performance Sport Officer who runs the HPP, added: "The students who take part in the High Performance Programme are the most talented athletes within their sport from our entire student body. Balancing the life of a student at a Russell Group University with that of an aspiring elite athlete is far from easy and the students have made many sacrifices along the way. The achievements we're celebrating today are testament to their dedication and commitment. Congratulations to them all."

The athletes and their brilliant achievements are:

Hannah Thomas

Hannah was selected to be part of the Team Wales 4 x 100 metre relay squad in Glasgow. The squad reached the final and gave Hannah the experience of running against some of the fastest women in the world. Hannah graduated with an English Literature degree in the summer and is now doing a Master's degree in Law.

Sally Peake

Pole vault star Sally won the silver medal at Glasgow, which was the only medal won in athletics for Team Wales by an able bodied athlete. Sally is currently completing her Master's in Sports Physiotherapy.

Sophie Clayton

Sophie went straight into the women's hockey squad for the opening game against England after a late call up to the Commonwealth Games, and played against some of the best players in the world throughout the event. She is now in the fifth and final year of her Dentistry degree.

Coral Kennerley

Coral was the highest placed British athlete in the 10 metre Air Pistol competition at Glasgow, finishing in sixth place for Team Wales. Coral is now in her second year of an Engineering degree and continues to compete around the world.

Dan Kyriakides

Dan was one of the youngest players in the Commonwealth Games men's hockey squad, showing great maturity and performance levels with an 'assist' in the opening game against India and scoring a goal against eventual Gold Medal winners Australia. Dan is now in his second year studying Marine Geography.

Natalie Powell

Biomedical Science student Natalie won a gold medal at Glasgow in Judo under 78kg, becoming the first ever Commonwealth Games Gold Medal winner in Judo for a Welsh athlete.

Jamie MacDonald

Jamie graduated in the summer with a degree in Business Information Systems and now works full-time in Exeter. He reached the last 16 of the Commonwealth Games in Judo under 66kg.

Carol Bridge

Carol was part of the Wales Triathlon mixed team relay squad in Glasgow and completed the second leg of the four. The team finished in 8^th place. Carol graduated with a degree in Adult Nursing in the summer and now works full-time.