Flying the flag for LJMU Sport Scholars

30 July 2012

We will be following them closely over the next few weeks via our website, facebook and twitter pages.

LJMU Sport Scholars in Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All the Sport Scholars at LJMU are top-level, elite athletes who have the potential and dedication to reach world-class standards in their chosen sport and they are also able students with the drive and ambition to study at degree level. Here is a snapshot of those who will be competing in London 2012.

Hannah Whelan: (Gymnastics - Artistic) is studying Sport Development and PE
Hannah trains at Liverpool Gymnastics club alongside Beth Tweddle. As current British Champion, she demonstrates great aptitude on all four apparatus although her favourite pieces are beam and floor. Hannah is the current English Beam Champion and in this year's European Championships received a Bronze on beam and floor. Hannah gained valuable experience by competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Beth Tweddle (Gymnastics) studied Sports Science
Beth is a double Olympian, 3-time World Champion, 6-time European Champion, Commonwealth Champion and has won seven consecutive National championships between 2001-2007. In 2009 Beth claimed her second World Championship title in front of a home crowd at the O2 arena in London, a phenomenal career highlight and a feat she wants to repeat in 2012. Beth graduated in June 2007 with a 2:1 in Sports Science

Anikya Onuora: Anyika Onuora (Athletics) studied Economics
Anyika attended the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a back up for the 4x100m relay. She already has some great experience having competed in the Commonwealth and European championships.

Rachel Brown (Football) studied PGCE in Physical Education
Rachel Brown plays football for this year's GB women's football team. Rachel plays for Everton Ladies and has competed for England in European Championships and the World Cup.

Fiona McCann (Water Polo) studied Sports Science
Senior member of GB Water polo squad; 2009-2010 GB Senior Team - World League; 2006-2010 GB Senior Team - European Championships; 2008-2009 National League Player of the Year; 2006 Commonwealth Water Polo tournament in Perth (her first tournament for GB Senior Team); 2005 GB Youth Team - European Youth Championships.

Michael Rimmer (Athletics) studied History
In August 2009, Rimmer competed in the World Championships, held in Berlin. In July 2010, he became the first male 800m runner in history to win five consecutive national senior titles in Birmingham. He won his first major championship medal in the European Championships in Barcelona, a silver medal.

Katarina Johnson-Thomson, due to enrol at LJMU this September, is only 19 years old. She recently beat Jessica Ennis's UK junior heptathlon record after scoring 6,248 points at a meeting in the Czech Republic, setting an Olympic 'A' standard and confirming her place at London 2012. Katarina will be studying Sports Science at LJMU.

LJMU Sport Scholarship Manager, David McDermott said:

"We are extremely proud of the achievements of our Sports Scholars and will be supporting all those who have made the Olympic Team. The Scholarship is designed to allow students to take advantage of specially tailored fitness and academic programmes to enable them to study without detracting from their vigorous training regimes. We make sure that they all receive valuable support from their LJMU sports mentors and tutors in order to balance their academic and sporting commitments."

LJMU profiles are available at: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/sportscholarships 

Olympic profiles are available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/athletes

Honorary Fellow scripts the Olympics

LJMU Honorary Fellow Dr Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who scripted the 201 Olympics opening ceremony, will discuss his experiences at a forthcoming LJMU Roscoe Lecture on Thursday 4 October at St George's Hall, entitled: 'What I learnt from the Olympics'.