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Celebrating our athletes from students to alumni

Our athletes hail from all walks of life, academic disciplines and Colleges and hone their skills while at Durham.

Sporting prowess doesn't stop after graduation, and many go on to become fully fledged sport stars. Others continue to be involved with their sport by choosing different pathways, such as providing leadership, coaching or volunteering. We are inspired by our student athletes and alumni alike, and are proud of their dedication and passion.
Discover our athletes
A group of mainly women standing on the banks of a river celebrating while holding a trophy and standing in front of a red BUCS champions banner

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University student
Through our Wider Student Experience programme, we do all we can to support students to enrich their time at Durham through the performing arts, sport, volunteering, entrepreneurship, e-sports and countless other activities. This year has been an excellent one for our sports clubs. They have achieved a record-breaking 13 British Universities and Colleges Sport national titles. Four alumni and a graduating student have so far been named in the Olympic team too - for rowing and hockey. We wish them all the very best of luck this summer and will certainly be cheering them on!

Professor Karen O’Brien
Vice-Chancellor and Warden
The logos for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics

Durham athletes at Paris 2024

Five alumni and a graduating student competed in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Congratulations to Lauren Irwin (women's rowing), Tess Howard and Fiona Crackles (women's hockey), Jack Waller and Ollie Payne (men's hockey), and Gemma Collis (wheelchair fencing).

Find out about our Olympic and Paralympic athletes Read our interview with Olympic rower Lauren Irwin

Graduating student Fiona Crackles playing in GB vs the Netherlands in the Olympic women's hockey quarter-finals on Monday 5 August.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumnus Jack Waller playing in GB vs Spain in the first of the men's hockey pool matches on Saturday 27 July.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumnus Jack Waller playing in GB vs Spain in the first of the men's hockey pool matches on Saturday 27 July.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumna Gemma Collis fighting against Ukraine's Nataliia Morkvych in her first women's wheelchair fencing match (sabre category A) on Tuesday 3 September.

Image courtesy of ParalympicsGB / imagecomms

Alumna Gemma Collis during the women's wheelchair fencing matches (sabre category A) on Tuesday 3 September.

Image courtesy of ParalympicsGB / imagecomms

Alumna Tess Howard playing in GB vs the Netherlands in the Olympic women's hockey quarter-finals on Monday 5 August.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumna Tess Howard playing in GB vs the USA in the fourth of the women's hockey pool matches on Thursday 1 August.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumnus Ollie Payne at the end of GB vs Spain in the first of the men's hockey pool matches on Saturday 27 July.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumna Lauren Irwin and team during the women's eight (W8+) rowing finals on Saturday 3 August. The team placed third behind Romania and Canada.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Alumna Lauren Irwin and the women's eight (W8+) team celebrating with their Olympic bronze medals.

Image courtesy of Team GB.

Paris 2024 in pictures

Browse the slideshow for a snapshot of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes in action. 

Not just athletes

Our Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic representation hasn't stopped with competing athletes - a number of other members of Durham's sporting and academic community have been involved in a variety of ways.

Professor Brett Smith from our Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences attended the Paralympic Games to campaign for equality in physical education (PE) for disabled children. Alumna Gabby Logan (Law, College of St Hild and St Bede, 1992-95; Honorary degree 2015) played a leading role in BBC Sport's TV presenting team. Alumna Claire Bennett (Modern Languages, Hatfield College, 2004-08), who has several Commonwealth Fencing Games titles to her name, also provided commentary for Eurosport on the fencing programme at the Grand Palais during the Olympics. Finally, alumnus Dan Barstow (Sport, St Aidan's College, 2006-09), former 1st team hockey captain at Durham, participated as an international umpire across the hockey competition, including as video umpire in the men's Olympic final gold medal match between Germany and eventual winners the Netherlands.

Find out more

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University student
The support I received from my College (Hild Bede) and its boat club definitely helped my rowing career. The links that the University also had with British rowing definitely helped my progression through the sport too. I'm so grateful for everyone's support and I wouldn't be here without it. Especially the coaches, my friends at University and my family.

Lauren Irwin
Team GB women's 8 rower and alumna

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Watch videos with our Olympic and Paralympic athletes

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Gemma Collis (women's wheelchair fencing)

In an interview with Team Durham in her final year at Durham in 2013, Gemma talked to us about her sporting journey here.

A record year for sport at Durham

University and College level sport is thriving, but don't just take our word for it! Delve into our news articles, read our student blogs and check out Team Durham's social media.

Our summer of sport successes continues

Our students, staff and alumni continue to represent Durham at international levels across the sporting spectrum this summer, from Paris to Canada.
A group of female rowers and their cox in white tracksuits jumping in the air with their hands up

Record-breaking season for sport at Durham

Our student sports clubs have achieved an all-time University record by winning 13 BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) national championships this season.
A group of men in a swimming pool celebrating

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"The facilities at Maiden Castle are pretty special. It’s a pretty good set-up there and something athletes need for strength and conditioning, and physical fitness. You can’t really get much better. The sports staff and coaches have been brilliant as well."

Max Pepper

Professional rugby player for Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club and alumnus

 

"Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would win four National Championships in one year, and be part of a wider team breaking its all-time BUCS Championship record. It just goes to show how Team Durham fosters a culture of excellence."

Ryan Dickson

Durham volleyball, baseball, and MBA postgraduate and sports scholar, St Cuthbert’s Society

 

"Being able to train everyday with such a talented group has really helped me to continue to develop both as a player and a leader. So much so that I received my first England Lacrosse senior cap in April and was very grateful to receive Sportswoman of the Year at the University’s Palatinate Awards off the back of this at the start of June."

Lizzie Rutherford

Durham lacrosse, Geography student, Collingwood College 

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Explore the latest sports news

  • Our summer of sport successes continues

    Our students, staff and alumni continue to represent Durham at international levels across the sporting spectrum this summer. From competing in the Olympic Games in Paris, the World Rowing Championships in Canada, and the Paralympic Games, our record year for sport shows no signs of slowing.
  • Making waves in Team GB's rowing squad

    Following alumna Lauren Irwin’s selection as part of the Team GB rowing squad, she has been training intensively for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
  • National spotlight for Durham's community sport programme

    Our sports and wellbeing work with our local communities has been highlighted as an example of best practice among UK universities.
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Making waves in Team GB's rowing squad

Following alumna Lauren Irwin’s selection as part of the Team GB rowing squad, she has been training intensively for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

National spotlight for Durham's community sport programme

Our sports and wellbeing work with our local communities has been highlighted as an example of best practice among UK universities.
Zoomed out, blurred image of indoor football match

Our sporting community

Our student and alumni athletes regularly hit the headlines for a variety of sports. They also engage with the wider Durham community to inform and inspire, with initiatives for local schools as well as audiences around the globe.

Our researchers are at the forefront of sport thought leadership and research news too, from exploring barriers to physical activity, to analysing what women need to feel safer when attending football tournaments.

Award-winning Sports University of the Year in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
Top 3 We've been ranked in the top 3 universities by BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport), since 2012

Discover the breadth of sporting activity at Durham

Our students, staff and alumni

Sporting thought leadership and research news

Read more from our students

Read about sport at Durham in our students' own words, and explore the wider sporting social media community. 

Student blog highlights

Beyond the lecture theatre: exploring Durham's sports scene

Third year Earth Sciences student Isabel explains how sport has shaped her time at Durham at both College and University level.

College sport - Hill v Bailey

Final year Geography undergraduate Tanisha delves into the details of College sport, and how Hill and Bailey Colleges cater for their student sports teams.
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Inspiring the extraordinary

Our transformative wider student experience helps students develop team working and leadership capabilities.

We’re consistently ranked within the top three British universities for sport and were named as Sports University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023. Sport is at the core of Durham student life, and a huge range of sporting opportunities is available, from joining College teams to competing at University level and beyond.

Learn more about sport at Durham