Alumnus Heath wins Olympic bronze in dramatic fashion

Loughborough University alumnus Liam Heath won a dramatic bronze medal in the men's kayak single 200m in Tokyo.

In a photo finish, Heath edged out Hungary's Kolos Csizmadia to secure his third consecutive medal at an Olympic Games in a time of 35.202 seconds.

The 36-year-old also set an Olympic-best time of 33.985 seconds in qualifying.

Following the race, Heath spoke to BBC Sport:

"I was maybe a bit hesitant off the start and didn't reach my potential in terms of peak speed.

"I am still happy with the performance. It is hard [another medal] to put into words. It is what you work towards to be at your best for these events."

Heath graduated in 2006 with a degree in Industrial Design and Technology and was awarded an Honorary Degree from the University in 2018.

Heath’s bronze is Loughborough’s tenth medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which includes three golds, five silvers, and two bronze medals. 

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 21/161

Loughborough University

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2021 QS World University Rankings and University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019.

Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 7th in the Guardian University League Table 2021, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2022.

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