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Leeds Beckett athletes claim Commonwealth Games glory
Fifteen athletes from the university competed at the games, winning a total of three gold and five silver medals.
Sport & Exercise Science graduates and triathletes Alex Yee MBE and Georgia Taylor-Brown MBE became double Commonwealth Games medallists after securing gold in the team triathlon sprint event. Earlier in the Games, Alex claimed gold in the men’s individual event and Georgia silver in the women’s event.
Weightlifter Emily Campbell, who led Team England out at the opening ceremony as the flag bearer, claimed Team Beckett’s third gold medal in the 87+kg category. Emily broke the Commonwealth Games overall record on her way to gold in a personal best performance.
Silver medallists included Leeds Beckett University Talent Hub athlete Keely Hodgkinson in the 800m and fellow talent hub athlete Lizzie Bird in the 3000m steeplechase, while alumna Lauren Smith claimed two silver medals in the final day of the Games in the badminton mixed and women’s doubles events.
It is not about coming to the Commonwealth Games or coming to the Olympics, it is about doing something you love.
GAMES BY The NUMBERS
Six of the 15 athletes competing were from the Leeds Beckett University Talent Hub, while student Apisai Bavadra, who represented Team England in the Rugby Sevens, is from the university’s BUCS Super Rugby programme. They each benefitted from support through the sports scholarship programme at the university during their time of studies.
Leeds Beckett University Talent Hub coaches Dr Andrew Drake and Andrew Henderson have also been involved in Team England’s athletics camps. Dr Drake took an active role in managing the racewalking and marathon teams, while Andrew Henderson closely supported Alex Bell.
ALex YEE and GEORGIA
TAYLOR-BROWN - Two golds, one silver
Alex Yee’s victory in the men’s individual triathlon carried extra significance, with it being the first gold medal awarded at the games.
Alex and rival Hayden Wilde received praise for their sportsmanship as they competed for the victory.
Days later, Alex would claim his second gold alongside fellow graduate Georgia Taylor-Brown in the team event.
It was also Georgia’s second medal of the games, having claimed silver in the women’s individual event.
Emily Campbell - Gold
A memorable Games for Emily Campbell saw her lead Team England into the stadium as flagbearer for the opening ceremony, before breaking the Commonwealth Games record on her way to gold in the women’s 87+kg weightlifting category.
"I'm absolutely elated," Emily told BBC Sport.
Last year, she claimed a silver at the Olympics and is among the early favourites for a medal at Paris 2024.
Keely Hodgkinson - SILVER
Keely Hodgkinson added to her growing list of achievements with silver in the women’s 800m.
It’s her latest major medal, adding to her World Championship silver earlier this summer and her Olympic silver last year.
Still only 20 years old, she has the chance to go one better at the upcoming European Championships.
Commonwealth games 2022 LBU results
Gold medals
- Triathlon men’s individual sprint – Alex Yee MBE (graduate)
- Triathlon team sprint – Alex Yee MBE and Georgia Taylor-Brown MBE (graduates)
- Women’s 87+kg weightlifting – Emily Campbell (graduate)
Silver medals
- Badminton mixed doubles – Lauren Smith (graduate)
- Badminton women’s doubles – Lauren Smith (graduate)
- Women’s 800m – Keely Hodgkinson (LBU Talent Hub)
- 3000m Steeplechase – Lizzie Bird (LBU Talent Hub)
- Triathlon women's individual sprint - Georgia Taylor-Brown MBE (graduate)
