University of Reading alumni and students go for Gold

Saturday, 28 July 2012

From Front to Back: Anna Watkins; Bill Lucas; Natasha Page; Sam Townsend; Ric Egington and Charles Cousins

The University of Reading has designs on Olympic medals in more ways than one over the next two weeks with the involvement of University of Reading students and alumni.

Here is the schedule of when you can watch University of Reading alumni and students at the 2012 London Olympics.

Eight world-class rowers, the largest number of athletes the University's Boat Club (RUBC) has ever contributed to the GB Squad, and a Team GB Hockey Player will be wearing medals designed by a Reading graduate if they make it on to the podium.

RUBC is steeped in Olympic success. Four years ago in Beijing, Reading students and alumni added three medals to the team's impressive tally and in the 2004 Athens Games Reading rowers brought home one gold and two silver medals.

At London 2012 RUBC will be represented by seven graduates and one current student. For some it will be a new experience, whereas for others previous Olympic memories will hopefully drive them on to more success.

For Zoology graduate Ric Egington London 2012 represents a chance to go one better as he was part of the silver winning Men's Eight four years ago. Ric, as with all the rowers, thinks competing in his home country makes this Olympics extra special.

Ric said: "I think it means a lot more to the spectators and the country as a whole to have the Olympics taking place in London. The recent national events - the Jubilee celebrations, the Euros - have shown just how proud people are to be British."

All the rowers say they have benefitted from the University of Reading's strong support and world-class facilities.

Iain Akhurst, Director of Sports and Recreation at the University, said: "I am delighted that the Boat Club has contributed so many talented rowers to the Great Britain Olympic Squad. The University is proud of the support it offers student athletes and of the facilities we have that helps them achieve their goals. But of course it takes commitment as well as talent to reach Olympic standard and we are delighted their hard work has paid off."

Will Rand, Director of Rowing at the University, added: "I would also like to thank the University for its unwavering support. We train in fantastic boats which is only made possibly by monies donated by the University's Annual Fund."

The University is also delighted that Reading graduate and Reading Hockey Club Player, Jonty Clarke, has been selected for the GB men's hockey squad. We wish all of them the best of luck during the Games."

Past Olympian legends James Cracknell OBE (BSc Geography, 1993), Garry Herbert MBE (BA History, 1993), and honorary graduate Sir Steven Redgrave CBE DL (DLitt, 2001), who also brought the Olympic flame to the opening ceremony and passed it on to the future talents in sport, will be providing commentary for the UK's Olympic coverage.

Another University of Reading graduate who will be watching the medal ceremonies with pride will be Professor David Watkins. David is a leading British artist and sculptor in metal who graduated with a BA in Fine Art in 1963 and designed the 2012 Olympic Medals.

"I was of course absolutely delighted, and surprised too, because I don't normally do this kind of work," said Professor Watkins when he was chosen as the official designer of the Olympic medals. "We decided quickly on the main focus. My ideas developed a little and I did a lot of work tweaking dimensions through computer modelling. Never once was a sketch produced - the medal design was developed using computer software. This way I could see what I was doing from every dimension, and ensure that I was not exceeding the manufacturer stipulations.

"At Reading a lot of what I learnt was to do with seeing things from the perspective of other people, studying different disciplines, whether that was philosophy, languages or maths. I made some dear friends at Reading and of course I have the University to thank for another huge influence, my wife, who I met at Reading!"

Alumni and students of the University in the Great Britain Olympic Squad:

Jonathan (Jonty) Clarke (BSc Economics, 2002) 2012 Men's Hockey Squad

Charles Cousins (BSc Psychology 2010) 2012 Olympic crew: Men's Quadruple Scull

Ric Egington (BSc Zoology 2001) 2012 Olympics: Men's Eight

Debbie Flood (BSc Physiology and Biochemistry 2005) 2012 Olympic crew: Women's Quadruple Scull

Alex Gregory (BSc Geography 2006) 2012 Olympic crew: Men's Fours

Bill Lucas (BA Politics and International Relations 2009) 2012 Olympic crew: Men's Double Scull (with Sam Townsend)

Natasha Page (BA Art 2007) 2012 Olympic crew: Women's Eight

Sam Townsend (BSc Rural Environmental Sciences 2010) 2012 Olympic crew: Men's Double Scull

Anna Watkins (Current student, studying for a PhD in Maths) 2012 Olympic crew: Women's Double Scull 

Watch a video: elite British rowers and University of Reading alumni Natasha Page and Sam Townsend talk about how their university experience in Reading helped them on the path to Olympic competition.