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The University of Southampton
Alumni and supporters

Our Olympic alumni

University of Southampton graduates have a proud history of Olympic participation and achievement over the last 60 years. In fact, at least one Southampton graduate has competed in each of the last eight summer Games – from Seoul in 1988 to Rio in 2016.

Christina Bassadone (BSc Management Sciences, 2005)

Christina competed in the Olympic games of Athens 2004 (seventh) and Beijing 2008 (sixth) in the double-handed 470 women’s sailing event.

Michael Beresford

Whilst he’s not a graduate of the University, Michael has been closely associated with Southampton’s Boat Club for over 40 years having coached both the men’s and women’s squads over that time. Michael rowed internationally for seven years, winning a European silver medal, a Commonwealth gold medal and placing fifth in the coxless fours at the Olympics in Rome 1960.

Guinevere Batten (BSc Ship Science, student in 1986-87)

Guinevere won a Silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics for Women’s quadruple sculls with her sister Miriam (see below) – Britain’s first ever medal at the Games in women’s rowing. Guin also competed in Atlanta 1996 where she was fifth in the Single Scull. She got into the sport after her sister introduced her to rowing whilst at the University.

Andrew Beadsworth (BEng Civil Engineering, 1990)

Andrew is a former World Youth Sailing Champion, part of the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic GB Sailing Squads in the Soling Class, and 2002 America’s Cup.

Guy Fordham (BSc Medicine, 1998)

Guy competed at the Olympics of Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 as part of the Great Britain men’s hockey squad.

Ben Helfgott, (Economics student in the late 1940s; Honorary doctorate, 2006)

A Polish-born survivor of the Holocaust who captained the British weightlifting team at Olympic Games of Melbourne 1956 and Rome 1960 competing in the Men’s Lightweight event.

 

Pavlos Kontides (BSc Ship Science, 2013)

Pavlos made history as the first Cypriot athlete to win an Olympic medal, taking silver in the Laser Class sailing event at London 2012. He previously competed in Beijing 2008 finishing thirteenth.

Miriam Luke (née Batten - BSc Physiology and Biochemistry, 1987)

Miriam was a Silver medal winner at the 2000 Sydney Olympics for Women’s quadruple sculls. Also competed in Barcelona 1992 coming fifth in the Heavyweight Coxless Pair and Atlanta 1996 placing seventh in the Heavyweight Eight.

Jon Potter (BA Geography, 1986)

Jon was part of Britain’s Gold medal winning Hockey team at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

Stacie Powell (MSc Astrophysics, 2009)

Stacie is a double Olympic finalist in the 10M platform and synchronised platform in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

 

Ben Saxton (BSc Business Studies, 2011)

Ben made his Olympic debut in Rio 2016 sailing in the multi-hull Nacra 17 class of boat also appearing for the first time ever in the Olympics.

Giles Scott (BSc Geography with Geology, 2008)

Four-time World Champion Giles Scott opened his bid for gold in Rio 2016 looking to continue Britain’s remarkable run of consecutive Olympic Finn class gold medallists since 2000.

Adrian Stead (BEng Ship Science, 1989)

Adrian was a member of the Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Olympic GB Sailing Squads in the Soling Class. He also competed in the 1997 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race and 2002 America’s Cup.

Michael ‘Bruce’ Tulloh, (BSc Biology, 1959)

Michael competed in the Olympic Games of Rome 1960 in the men’s 5,000 metre run, taking the European title in Belgrade in 1962. Tulloh famously ran barefoot in many of his races.

Alison Young (BSc Civil Engineering, 2008)

The 2016 World Laser Radial sailing champion Alison Young came fifth in London 2012 before competing in Rio. Alison is the first British woman to win worlds gold in a solo Olympic dinghy event.

 

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