Leeds Beckett Athletes ready to shine in Paris

The Carnegie School of Sport, home to a £45 million complex, has been central to the athletes’ preparation, offering everything from performance analysis to tailored coaching and training environments. From athletics to triathlon, weightlifting and rugby, Leeds Beckett's extensive support network has ensured that athletes are ready for the challenges ahead.

With state-of-the-art facilities and expert coaching, as well as resources such as its environmental heat chambers and recovery heat baths, the athletes have experienced the diverse and demanding conditions they are likely to face over the next two-and-a-half weeks.

Among the athletes competing this year, Keely Hodgkinson and Max Burgin have excelled at the 800m through the guidance of coaches at Leeds Talent Hub, while marathon runners Calli Hauger-Thackery, Phil Sesemann, and Emile Cairess have also trained there in the lead up to the games.

Triathlete Alex Yee, a Sports and Exercise Science graduate, and his fellow triathletes Georgia Taylor-Brown and Beth Potter, have benefited from coaching at the hub.

Weightlifting star, Emily Campbell who completed a BSc (Hons) Sports Science 2016 and Lauren Smith, a badminton mixed doubles player, and BSc Hons Sports Coaching graduate are also part of the list of athletes heading to the games and have shown the range of talent supported by Leeds Beckett.

Paralympic athletes, Dame Sarah Storey in para-cycling and Kadeena Cox in cycling and athletics, highlight the university's wide-ranging impact in working with athletes at the height of their careers.

Peter Slee, Vice Chancellor at Leeds Beckett, said: "We are incredibly proud of the athletes connected to Leeds Beckett who will be representing Great Britain at the Games. Seeing their success is a reward for all the hard work and commitment that goes into their training and development. It also reflects the athletes' dedication and perseverance and the support and guidance provided by our coaches and staff.

"Their achievements on the international stage not only bring immense pride to our university but also inspire future generations of students and athletes to pursue their own aspirations with the same level of passion and determination.

"As we look forward to the upcoming Games, our commitment to nurturing and supporting talent is reflected in the list of athletes who have secured their places. We wish them all the best and look forward to seeing them excel on the global stage."

The Leeds Talent Hub has developed a world-class training environment. Through the collaboration of Leeds Beckett, British Athletics, England Athletics, London Marathon Events, and the Talent Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), the hub has equipped athletes with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed at the highest levels.

The talented roster representing Great Britain in the coming weeks, all of whom have benefited from this outstanding programme are below:

Olympics team

Athletics

• Calli Hauger-Thackery - Marathon, Leeds Talent Hub
• Callum Wilkinson - Race walking, formerly Leeds Race walking Centre, LBU graduate BSc Hons Sports Events Management 2019
• Emile Cairess - Marathon, Leeds Talent Hub
• Jacob Fincham-Dukes - Long Jump, Leeds Talent Hub
• Jade O'Dowda - Heptathlon, Leeds Talent Hub
• Keely Hodgkinson - 800m, Leeds Talent Hub and former LBU student
• Lizzie Bird - 3000m steeplechase, Leeds Talent Hub
• Max Burgin - 800m, Leeds Talent Hub
• Phil Sesemann - Marathon, Leeds Talent Hub
• Scott Lincoln - Shot put, Leeds Talent Hub

Triathlon

• Alex Yee - Triathlon, Formerly of Leeds Triathlon Centre, LBU graduate BA Hons Sports and Exercise Science 2021
• Beth Potter - Triathlon, Leeds Triathlon Centre - coaching team includes Leeds Beckett’s head of athletics Andrew Henderson, head of S&C Dane Mitchell, and our former head of Triathlon Jack Maitland
• Georgia Taylor-Brown - Triathlon, Leeds Triathlon Centre, LBU graduate BA Hons Sports and Exercise Science 2015
• Kate Waugh - Triathlon, formerly Leeds Triathlon Centre
• Sam Dickinson - Triathlon, Leeds Triathlon Centre

Weightlifting

• Emily Campbell - Weightlifting, former LBU sports scholar, LBU graduate BSc (Hons) Sports Science 2016

Badminton

• Lauren Smith - Badminton (mixed doubles), LBU graduate BSc Hons Sports Coaching, 2014

GB7s

• Have held two training camps using our facilities, with sport and exercise therapy students also supporting the team

Gymnastics

• Luke Whitehouse - Team GB Gymnast, LBU current student Sport & Exercise Therapy

Paralympians

Para-cycling

• Dame Sarah Storey - Para-cycling, LBU graduate BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science, 2000 – this will be her ninth Paralympics

Para-athletics and Para-cycling

• Kadeena Cox - C4/5 time trial cycling and T38 400m, former sports scholar, Leeds-based, LBU graduate

Weightlifting

• Ali Jawad - Weightlifting, Sports and Exercise Science at Leeds Beckett

Jamaica

Diving

• Yona Knight-Wisdom - Former sports scholar, City of Leeds Diving, LBU graduate BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science 2016