The gathering – hosted during the World Athletics Championships – marked Loughborough’s phenomenal contribution to the sport throughout the years.
Delivered in collaboration with sports governing body World Athletics and Lord Seb Coe (Chancellor, Loughborough University and President of World Athletics), colleagues from the University welcomed delegates to celebrate Loughborough’s achievements.
Those in attendance included stakeholders, partners, sport administration professionals, alumni, coaches, and current and former athletes.
Speaking at the event, Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, said: “Sport has always been part of the University’s DNA and our successes have never wavered.
“Last year, we launched our new 2030 strategy: “Creating Better Futures, Together” and this has a couple of strands relevant to today’s gathering.
“The first is to ensure we make the most of our sporting excellence and opportunity, and crucially to use our research-leadership to have an impact on the world of sport. We want to bring Loughborough alumni, staff, friends, and partners together more often to celebrate our successes.”
Prof Jennings continued: “Of course this success is not possible without the individuals who make these things happen. Loughborough Students' Athletics Club has produced a remarkable roster of athletes who have achieved success both on the track and in the classroom.
“As well as getting their degrees, these athletes have earned titles, broken records and been role models. They have also been renowned coaches, been at the heart of major events and had prominent leadership roles in National Governing Bodies.
“This talent pipeline continues today and for that we’re all incredibly proud.”
Loughborough University welcomed current and former athletes to the event (L-R): Sophie Ashurst, Joel Clarke-Khan, Molly Caudery, Charlie Dobson, Alex Haydock-Wilson, Martyn Rooney, Lewis Davey, Rio Mitcham.
Loughborough athletes have enjoyed a successful 2023 World Championship to date, with university-based Katarina Johnson-Thompson winning heptathlon gold before alumnus Rio Mitcham claimed another medal for Great Britain with silver in the mixed 4x400m relay.
Elsewhere, current PhD student Jessica Judd-Warner recorded a top-eight finish in the women’s 10,000m final, alumna Molly Caudery landed a lifetime best of 4.75m in the women’s pole vault final, and current student Ben Pattison came through his heat to reach the men’s 800m final.
Image caption: Lord Seb Coe, Chancellor, Loughborough University and President of World Athletics, addresses the crowd.
Loughborough will also have high hopes for the upcoming men’s 4x400m relay as current PhD student Alex Haydock-Wilson, alumnus Rio Mitcham, and alumnus Charlie Dobson will form part of Great Britain’s team vying for podium places.
There will also be further medal hopes for Loughborough as university-based international athletes Neeraj Chopra and Chase Ealey compete in the men’s javelin and women’s shot put respectively.
Loughborough University’s proud history in athletics has seen the institution consistently produce some of the greatest ever athletics athletes, including Paula Radcliffe, Lord Seb Coe, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Jonathan Broom-Edwards, and Jake Wightman.
Image caption: (L-R) Double Olympic Games gold medalist Daley Thompson alongside Professor Nick Jennings.
For more information on athletics at Loughborough University, visit: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/sports/athletics/