MyGlasgow News

The University has hosted an inaugural reception to honour the recent success of students in sport and to celebrate the selection of this year’s "Black and Gold" sport bursars.

The event, held in the university chapel on Tuesday 19th November, celebrated the 32 talented athletes at the University all looking to combine a first class degree while competing at national and international levels in their sport. They were present, dressed in their smart Black and Gold track jackets.

The Principal, Professor Anton Muscatelli, praised the work of the University's Sport and Recreation team and the members of the GU Sports Association who did an enormous amount of work to promote staff and student participation in sport.

He said: "I'd like to thank them on behalf of the University for seizing the opportunities of the Commonwealth Games and the sport bursaries scheme to keep the momentum going and highlighting the value of sport and education.

"There is no doubt that those who participate in sport at university benefit hugely. We are very privileged every year to have a significant number of very talented athletes at the University."

London 2012 hockey Olympian bronze medallist, Emily Maguire, was another speaker at the reception. Emily said: "I got my first international cap while I was at the University and I was fortunate enough to be able to combine that with my studies in such a way that I was able to complete my degree. Thank you so much to everyone who has made this sport bursaries project happen. It is such an incredible thing."

Among the athletes present were Laura Muir, a current 3rd year Veterinary Medicine student, who has already been selected to compete in the 800m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. Another was Lauren Gray who won the World Curling Championship earlier this year. She said: "I have achieved more than I would ever have dreamed of at Glasgow University. I came to Glasgow at 17, having won a few Scottish titles and the European Youth Olympics.  Thanks to the financial, academic and personal support at the University, I am  now leaving four years later as the reigning World Ladies Curling Champion with a Joint Honours Arts Degree.  My experience at Glasgow University has been nothing short of extraordinary."

Euan Smith, Assistant Director,Sport and Recreation Service said “This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the success of many of our talented athletes that form part of our student body and alumni.  We wish them all the very best in the coming year which will be a fantastic year of sport for the city and the University”.

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First published: 20 November 2013