Navigation menu

Olympic star Oli shines at University of Kent sports event

Olympic mountain bike rider Oli Beckingsale was among the speakers at an event run by the University of Kent's Centre for Sports Studies.

The triple Olympian athlete, who also won a silver medal in the most recent Commonwealth Games, took part in a question and answer session with students studying for one of the sports degree programmes offered at the University. Mr Beckingsale's appearance formed part of a special interest day at the University's Medway campus on the theme of cycling.

He was joined by several other speakers of international calibre, including Michele Verroken, founding director of the Sporting Integrity consultancy, who spoke on the issue of doping in sport and the challenges it presents; and Dr Gary Brickley, Paralympic Cycling Coach for Great Britain.

In addition to University of Kent staff and students, Mid-Kent College students and members of Medway Council attended the event.

Professor Louis Passfield, Director for the Centre for Sports Studies, who has worked as fitness coach and sports science consultant for a range of Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games cyclists, gave students an insight on preparing athletes for the highest levels of competition.

Students also made a presentation which outlined their strategy for encouraging more Medway students to 'get on their bikes' and start cycling to and from campus.

The day concluded with an indoor cycle relay race, in which the University's sports students scored a victory over their lecturers.

The University's Centre for Sports Studies, based at Medway, has more than 300 students working towards degrees on its various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Kent's new intake of students in September 2009 for its various sports courses was in excess of 140, marking an increase of 50 per cent on the previous year.

Contact: N.J.Ellwood@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 9:00am 1 December 2009