Nottingham graduates scooped five medals at London 2012 Olympics.

With two gold, two silver and one bronze, the University was the UK’s second most successful higher education provider at the Games, according to Podium’s medal table. The success continues a strong Olympic tradition which saw Nottingham pick up six medals between 1992 and 2008.

Once again it was on the water that Nottingham excelled in London, with four medals following the three that the University won in Beijing. Biology graduate Chris Bartley won silver in the Men’s Lightweight Four Rowing event at Eton Dorney, before mechanical engineering graduates Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott took gold in the C2 Canoe Slalom. In the same event, David Florence (Mathematical Physics) took silver for the second successive Games.

David said: “It’s been amazing to have been a part of London 2012 and to have won a second Olympic medal is incredible. To have come so close to the gold is frustrating, but I’m still very proud of my achievement.”

David says he made real progress during his time at Nottingham: “I found it difficult combining my studies and training, but to have the national water sports centre on my doorstep and the support of the University allowed me to make huge improvements in my time studying there.”

Fellow alumni, including 2008 Gold medallist Tim Brabants (Medicine), Nigerian Canoe Sprint star Johny Akinyemi and rower Olivia Whitlam (Environmental Science) missed out on medals.

Anne Panter put a series of career-threatening injuries behind her to win bronze with the GB Women’s Hockey Team.

Graduates Nick Catlin (History) and Rob Moore (Economics) and future student Harry Martin (Economics), could not match Anne’s success with the GB Men’s Hockey team finishing fourth, but Assistant Director of Sport Nigel Mayglothling, says the Games were a huge success for the University.

He said: “It is fantastic to see our former students doing so well. I am delighted for our canoeists in particular and proud of our hockey boys despite their near-miss for a medal. Our medal winners have proved that you can balance academic achievement and sporting excellence, and we will continue to work hard to help our students do just that on the road to Rio and beyond.”

Find out more about the University’ at the Olympics via our blog or: exchange.nottingham.ac.uk London 2012 Olympics Special.