Current Students and Staff

// University News

27 Aug 2014

Loughborough athletes claim nine medals at IPC European Championships

Loughborough based athletes have won nine medals (3 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze) at the IPC Athletics European Championships held in Swansea.

Following success at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games University graduate Dan Greaves claimed his second title of the year, and a European record, in the F44 discus with a throw of 62.34m.

Speaking after the event Dan Greaves said:

“I knew I was in good shape coming into the competition. For me, gold comes first but to get a PB and European record is just phenomenal. I’m still pretty speechless to be honest. I really wanted to get the gold today and I’m delighted to get it here in Costa Del Swansea.”

Loughborough based Stef Reid won the gold medal in the T44 long jump with 5.32m, just four centimetres ahead of Marie-Amelie Le Fur from France.

It was the first major title for Stef who recently broke the World Record with a jump of 5.47m at the Diamond League in Glasgow, and was the silver medallist at the London 2012 Games.  Stef Reid said:

“I’m so happy - this is the first time I’ve won a title. It’s not the same as world records, this is first time I’m going to be able to stand in the middle of the podium and I don’t think I’ve really realised how much I’ve wanted this.”

On the track Loughborough based Jonnie Peacock added the European title to his Paralympic and World gold medals, winning the T44 100m in a time of 11.26. Jonnie said:

It's a nice relief to win. I did feel a little bit of pressure coming here. I was strong favourite and everyone kept telling me that so I had to come into this race and just execute it.”

University graduate Jonathan Broom-Edwards broke his personal best twice to record 2.15m in the F44 high jump and claim the silver medal behind Maciej Lepiato, who cleared 2.17m to set a new World Record.

World champion Sophie Hahn won two individual silver medals in the T38 100m and the 400m - in a new personal best time.  Loughborough based Bethany Woodward claimed the bronze medal in the T37 400m.

Sophie and Bethany were also part of the GB & NI T35-38 4x100m relay team that won the silver medal in a new British record of 53.84.

Loughborough Athletics’ throws coach Jim Edwards, who works with Dan Greaves, also saw Kieran Tscherniawsky claim the silver medal in the F34 discus after being pipped to the gold in the final throw by Germany’s Daniel Scheil.

Jim also works with sprinter turned thrower and University graduate Sam Ruddock who finished fifth in the F35 shot put and Jonathan Adams who came a place ahead in fourth with a best throw of 11.71m.