Marjon Students to Claim Spots at Olympics
Released: 22.02.16
STUDENTS Sarah Barrow and Ben Proud are set for selection for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics this summer.
Diver Sarah Barrow and synchro partner Tonia Couch won a bronze medal and qualifying spots at the FINA Diving World Cup.
Swimmer Ben Proud broke the British record with a Gold medal at the British Universities & Colleges Sport Nationals (BUCS).
Video with thanks to BBC Spotlight.
On Spotlight tonight we speak with Plymouth Leander swimmer Ben Proud who has just broken his own British 50m freestyle record. He clocked the second fastest time in the world this year on his way to the British Universities title. With the Rio Games a few months away, could he have his eyes set on an Olympic gold?
Posted by BBC Spotlight on Monday, February 22, 2016
Ben set a record of 21.73 by breaking his own British record of 21.7 at the 2016 BUCS Nationals in Sheffield and will find out next month if he’s selected for the Rio Olympics.
Dean of the Faculty of Sport & Health Sciences, Professor Andrew Edwards, said: “We’re delighted to see Ben and Sarah going from strength to strength on the international stage, and wish them all the best for Rio.
“The University of St Mark & St John has long been a driving force in elite sport and our continued investment in new facilities and programmes to enhance professional sport ensure that many more young people will have access to the same opportunities these athletes have been able to explore and enjoy so fully.”
Beating his previous record at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by 0.03 seconds, Ben said: “It felt great and I knew I had a quick time in me. There were still things I could improve on but it’s good to get that record.”
His lecturer Phil Brown said: “What Ben is achieving with his coach Jon Rudd is truly exceptional. Ben is getting faster and faster, everyone at the University is starting to get really excited about what he’ll achieve in Rio this summer”.
Also at BUCS, Marjon student John Slater came 7th in 100m freestyle final and Aaron Rickhuss came 5th in 50m freestyle final.
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