Peaty wins gold, while 80 others of Loughborough’s finest have yet to compete

Adam Peaty won Team GB’s first gold medal yesterday at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and a first of many for our great uni.

Peaty, who used Loughborough’s training ground to prep for the Olympics, is not the only Olympian with a Loughborough connection with the potential to score gold.

He is followed by over 80 Olympians who are either currently studying, are former students, have recently graduated or frequently use the University of Loughborough training grounds.

A Loughborough University spokesman has said: “Naturally we’re delighted with our representation at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We hope that our athletes in Rio will inspire our students to take their sport to the next level, we pride ourselves on catering for the full sporting pathway, from recreational sport right through to elite level.”

Over 50 Olympians and paralympians who are current, former and graduate students competing in the Rio 2016 Olympics, and over 80 Olympians who use Loughborough University as their training ground, still have potential to win gold.

“If the University had been a country it would have finished 11th in the medal table.” Loughborough Uni has also won the BUCS title for 35 consecutive years, and the past and present students of the University have won 35 medals all together.

Here are some of the athletes competing in Rio 2016 olympics who attended Loughborough university:

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 27, a former student at the University of Loughborough is competing in athletics at Rio olympics on the 18th at 15:40. In 2005 he was given BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and IAAF’s Rising Star of the Year. Aryeetey is also the first athlete to win gold in both 100m and 200m.

Giselle Ansley, 24, a graduate of the University of Loughborough having studied sport and exercise science, Ansley is now competing as part of GB’s hockey team in Rio. She is competing on the 10th at 17:30, the 12th at 00:30, and the 13th at 22:00.

Chris Baker, 25, a former student of the University of Loughborough is competing in athletics at 00:30 on the 15th.

Gold medalist Louise Bloor, 30, also a graduate, is competing in athletics at 15:20 on the 18th, is an elite sprinter as well as a performance nutritionist for the national judo and taekwondo.

Phill Burgess, 28, a graduate of Loughborough, will join the GB Olympic rugby team in Rio on the 9th at 16:00 and 21:00, and the 10th at 16:30.

Laurent Carnol, 26, is currently a Chemistry student at Loughborough University. Carnol will be swimming at 17:50 on the 9th.

Bronze medal winner, David Condon, 25, also a graduate from Loughborough University will be competing with the mens GB hockey team on the 9th at 22:00, the 11th at 00:30 and the 12th at 21:00.

Alex Davis, 23, a graduate from Loughborough will be competing in the mens GB rugby team on the 9th at 16:00 and at 21:00.

Emily Diamond, 25,  has now graduated from Loughborough University and now currently trains there, will be competing in athletics at 15:00 and 00:40 on the 20th.

Mark Gleghorne, 31, who has played for Loughborough mens hockey and is a graduate of Loughborough will be competing in hockey on the 9th at 21:00, the 11th at 00:30, and the 12th at 21:00.

Robbie Grabarz, 28, started a foundation degree programme with Loughborough University, will be coming in athletics on the 15th at 00:30.

Angela Hannah, 30, has been competing in canoe sprint since 2007 is a graduate from Loughborough University. She will competing on the 15th at 13:20.

Liam Heath, 31, also a graduate is sprinting in Rio on the 17th at 13:00 and on the 19th at 13:37.

Maddie Hinch, 27, studied Sport & Exercise Science at the University of Loughborough and will be competing in women’s hockey on the 10th at 17:30, the 12th at 00:30 and the 13th at 22:00.

Vicky Holland, 30, did not start competing in triathlon until her second year at Loughborough University. Now graduated and in Rio she will be competing in the triathlon on the 20th at 15:00.

John Jackson, a graduate from Loughborough is joining team GB’s men’s hockey team on the 9th at 16:30, 11th at 15:00 and the 12th at 23:30.

Hannah Macleod, 32, who infamously had her bronze medal stolen in London’s Mahiki’s, also a graduate of Loughborough Uni, will be competing with hockey on the 10th at 17:30, 00:30 on the 12th and 22:00 on the 13th.

Barry Middleton, 32, a Loughborough graduate, captained the England squad that won bronze in 2014, will be competing with hockey on the 9th at 22:00, the 11th at 00:30 and the 12th at 21:00.

Beth Potter, 24, also a graduate is competing in athletics at 15:10 on the 12th.

Martyn Rooney, 29, also a graduate, with a  personal sprinting best at 44.45 seconds, is competing with athletics at 01:05 on the 13th.

Sam Ruddock, 29, who studied International Relations at University of Loughborough, will be competing in athletics on the 13th at 01:05 and the 20th at 01:10.

Sonia Samuels, 37, British long-distance runner, will be running in athletics on the 14th at 13:30.

Jon Schofield, 31, who studied Human Biology at Loughborough University will be competing in the canoe sprint on the 17th at 13:37 and the 18th at 13:47.

Kevin Seaward, 32, an Irish marathon runner, and also a graduate at Loughborough Uni will be competing in athletics at 13:30 on the 21st.

Ian Sloan, 22, a current student at the University of Loughborough, balances being part of the men’s hockey GB team in the Rio 2016 olympics with his undergraduate degree. He will be competing on the 9th at 22:00, the 11th at 00:30 and the 12th at 21:00.

Zachary Test, 26, a former student of Loughborough will be competing with the men’s GB rugby team on the 9th at 17:00 and 22:00 and the 10th at 17:30.

Laura Unsworth, 28, a Loughborough graduate, recently won Gold in 2015. Will be taking part in hockey at Rio on the 10th at 17:30, the 11th at 00:30 and the 12th at 21:00.

Nanna Vainio, 25, a graduate from Loughborough, will be representing Finland in badminton on the 11th at 15:53, and the 12th at 19:30.

Henry Weir, 26, graduated from the University of Loughborough with a degree in sports science. He will also be competing with the mens hockey team on the 9th at 22:00, the 11th at 00:50, and the 12th at 21:00.

Silver and Bronze medalist Nicola White, 28, a Loughborough graduate, will be competing with the GB women’s hockey team at 18:30 on the 10th, 12th at 17:30 and 00:50 and the 13th at 15:00.

Laura Whittle, 31, Scottish long-distance runner, also a graduate from Loughborough. Will be competing on the 16th at 13:50 and the 20th at 00:40.