The 2023-24 academic year has seen students and colleagues reach great heights across all aspects of university life and this is very much true in the world of sports. Here are some of the University’s sporting highlights from the 2023-24 academic year - in no particular order.
1. Westminster teams reign supreme in the league and cup
Women's Basketball 1st team
In the 2023-24 academic year the Men's Football 1st team, Women’s Netball 1st team and the Men’s Badminton 2nd team all won their leagues. Each team won them in style, with the Men’s Football team going unbeaten all season.
Multiple teams also made it to the BUCS Cup Finals this year, giving them the chance to battle it out to be named champions. Both the Women’s Basketball 1st team and the Women’s Netball 1st team successfully made it through all the knockout rounds and narrowly lost in the finals.
2. Success in Taekwondo
Taim Othman, Shaber Omar and Owen Xue
There were numerous successes in the world of Taekwondo at the University of Westminster this year. Several medals were won by students in the winter and summer BUCS championships, leading to three students, Taim Othman, Shaber Omar and Owen Xue, being selected for the European University Games in Hungary taking place in July.
3. Westminster alumnus waved flag for Jamaica in 2024 Olympics Games
Law LLB Honours alumnus Josh Kirlew walked out with pride at the 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony as Jamaica’s flag bearer and contender in the Men’s 100m Butterfly swimming event.
About becoming an Olympian Kirlew said: “Qualifying as an Olympian is an achievement in itself, and I’ve been praying for it for so long that when I found out I made it, I was over the moon, and still am. And after being announced as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony, I feel so proud and humbled to be given this great honour.”
4. Westminster achieves best BUCS position
Women's Netball 1st team
Through multiple sporting victories the University of Westminster achieved its best ever position in the BUCS league – a telling indication of Westminster’s sporting prowess. This year Westminster came in 83rd out of 165 universities – an improvement on 86th from last year and 92nd the year before.
5. Elite athlete success
Boxer Aya Hijazi (middle) with team
Many Westminster students supported by the University’s Elite Athlete Programme have also had major success this year. Aya Hijazi became England National Amateur Boxing Champion in the Elite Category, and subsequently has been selected for multiple England squad training camps. Ella Cohen won a bronze medal with Team England in the European Lacrosse Championships, and Tara Louise Hay competed in the European Brazilian Ju Jitsu Championships in Paris in January.
Vivian Barton, Vice President Activities at the University of Westminster, said: "Sports at Westminster is constantly growing, this year especially we've had many great achievements as spoken about in this report. With many teams securing promotions, making it to the cup finals and multiple individuals representing the Westminster Dragons at competitions around Europe. It has been an incredible year of sporting success and hopefully a source of inspiration to current or upcoming students. With the new season approaching it will be exciting to see the dragon's family flourish once again and achieve another year of remarkable accomplishments."
Find out more about sports at the University of Westminster.
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