Loughborough-linked swimmers secured another two silver medals during an enthralling evening of action at the Commonwealth Games.
Alumnus James Wilby produced a gutsy performance in the Men’s 200m breaststroke to take second place – Team England’s first swimming medal in Birmingham.
The Chemistry graduate was roared on by yet another lively crowd as he hit the wall in 2:08.59 ahead of Scotland’s bronze medallist Ross Murdoch.
The race was won by Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook in 2:08.07.
Following his silver this evening, Wilby now has six Commonwealth Games medals to his name after podium finishes at Glasgow 2014 (one) and Gold Coast 2018 (five).
"I mean that was one of those races where it was always going to take a big commitment. Ah, I would've loved to win but it was just such an incredible race,” he told BBC Sport.
“We’ve both had a bit of a challenging one this year [Wilby and Murdoch], so to come away with a medal means a lot to us both, so really happy with that."
In the final event of the night, Loughborough-based Anna Hopkin helped the hosts' mixed 4x100m freestyle relay team take another silver medal. Hopkin looked strong throughout her leg, holding off stiff competition from Canada and Wales respectively.
Loughborough alumna Abbie Wood was also awarded a silver medal for her part in the heats.
After the opening day in Birmingham, Loughborough’s medal tally stands at four – one gold, three silver.
Loughborough’s dedicated 2022 Commonwealth Games website features all the latest news, videos, and medal tables from Birmingham.
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 22/147
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 2022 QS World University Rankings and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2022, and 10th in both the Guardian University League Table 2022 and the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
Alumnus James Wilby with his silver medal. Image provided by PA/Alamy.
Loughborough-linked swimmers secured another two silver medals during an enthralling evening of action at the Commonwealth Games.
Alumnus James Wilby produced a gutsy performance in the Men’s 200m breaststroke to take second place – Team England’s first swimming medal in Birmingham.
The Chemistry graduate was roared on by yet another lively crowd as he hit the wall in 2:08.59 ahead of Scotland’s bronze medallist Ross Murdoch.
The race was won by Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook in 2:08.07.
Following his silver this evening, Wilby now has six Commonwealth Games medals to his name after podium finishes at Glasgow 2014 (one) and Gold Coast 2018 (five).
"I mean that was one of those races where it was always going to take a big commitment. Ah, I would've loved to win but it was just such an incredible race,” he told BBC Sport.
“We’ve both had a bit of a challenging one this year [Wilby and Murdoch], so to come away with a medal means a lot to us both, so really happy with that."
In the final event of the night, Loughborough-based Anna Hopkin helped the hosts' mixed 4x100m freestyle relay team take another silver medal. Hopkin looked strong throughout her leg, holding off stiff competition from Canada and Wales respectively.
Loughborough alumna Abbie Wood was also awarded a silver medal for her part in the heats.
After the opening day in Birmingham, Loughborough’s medal tally stands at four – one gold, three silver.
Loughborough’s dedicated 2022 Commonwealth Games website features all the latest news, videos, and medal tables from Birmingham.
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 22/147
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 2022 QS World University Rankings and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2022, and 10th in both the Guardian University League Table 2022 and the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
