While the University can boast some of Great Britain’s biggest medal hopes at London 2012, its future Olympic reputation also looks to be in good hands.

High jumper Isobel Pooley and swimmer Sam van de Schootbrugge are among the countries brightest young sporting talent and are already itching to make the plane to Rio 2016 after missing out on London.

Isobel, who represented Great Britain in a senior competition for the first time at the European Championships in Helsinki this June, missed out on Olympic selection by just four centimetres.

With a personal best of 1.88 metres, the current British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) high jump champion, is confident that she can go on to represent her country at the highest level.

The Biosciences student said: “Without sounding boastful or cocky I am confident that I will break the British Record (1.95m) one day. My success so far has been remarkable and I’m still very young in high-jump terms – jumpers are at their prime in their late 20s so I have plenty of years left in the game!

“Obviously my height is an advantage, something I inherited from my Dad — he’s 6ft 10in and I’m 6ft 3in, and I know that I have the drive and the commitment to go all the way.”

For Sam, who has also represented his country, this summer’s Olympics also came to soon despite making the final of the 200m Butterfly and confirming his place among the UK’s top 10 at the British Olympic swimming trials in Sheffield.

The London 2012 torch-bearer said: “This year has been a major learning curve. My training intensity has increased and my body has had to adjust to it. The Olympic trials were a great experience and will set me up well for the next Olympic trials in 2016, in which I hope to be more experienced and better able to handle the pressures of making a team.”

Nigel Mayglothling, assistant director of sport at the University, has been delighted with the progress of both athletes during their time at Nottingham.

“Isobel and Sam not only possess immense talent, but also the dedication, perseverance and total focus on future success that all elite athletes require,” he said.

“Both will continue the University’s proud tradition of supporting academic students in pursuit of Olympic glory and we will continue to do all we can to support them on the road to Rio 2016.”