Medallists Dimitri Coutya (wheelchair fencing), Kieran Bird (swimming), Becky Wilde (rowing), Dan Bethell (para-badminton) and Piers Gilliver (wheelchair fencing). Photo: Anna Barclay.

The athletes all train, study or studied at the University, one of the country’s leading institutions for high-performance sport, and were joined at the gathering by staff, coaches and civic representatives from Bath and Somerset.

Double Paralympic Champion Dimitri Coutya (wheelchair fencing) and Olympic gold-medallist Kieran Bird (swimming) were in attendance along with Dan Bethell (para-badminton), Piers Gilliver (wheelchair fencing) and Becky Wilde (rowing), who all enjoyed podium success in Paris.

Tokyo Olympic Champion Freya Anderson, Leah Crisp and Jacob Whittle, Bird’s team-mates in the Aquatics GB Bath Performance Centre, also attended, as did Pentathlon GB’s Kate French and Charlie Brown. Demonstrating the international nature of the University’s Paris contingent were student-athletes Henrique Mascarenhas (swimming) and Sofia Sjostrom (eventing), who represented Angola and Sweden respectively.

The event was hosted by Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, who said: “We are immensely proud of the athletes’ achievements in Paris this summer and delighted we can celebrate that today.

“In total there were 30 athletes who either train, study or studied at the University who competed in Paris, across 12 different sports and representing seven countries, and they brought home an incredible 17 medals between them.

“We were honoured earlier this year to be awarded the status of UK Sport-accredited Elite Training Centre, celebrating the University’s role in helping Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes achieve their full performance potential.

Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, hosted the homecoming celebration. Photo: Anna Barclay.

“Supporting high-performance athletes is just part of the University’s commitment to sport. We are Top 10 in the World University Rankings for sports-related subjects, and our sports courses, innovative research and first-class facilities help improve fitness, health and sporting techniques for people around the world.”

Speaking on behalf of the Olympic athletes, women’s double sculls bronze-medallist Wilde – who made the switch from swimming to rowing while studying Sport and Social Sciences – thanked the University for supporting her through lengthy injury rehabilitation during her time as a student-athlete.

“There was a period in my second year of rowing when I didn’t know if I’d ever get back in a boat again but the University backed me throughout,” said Wilde, who was supported by a Santander Scholarship. “It is thanks to my physio Heather Foster, my coach Dan Harris [with the GB Rowing Team Start Programme] and having access to the amazing facilities here that I was able to continue my rowing career.”

Category B epee and foil champion Coutya, who won four medals in total in Paris, spoke on behalf of the Paralympic athletes. He has trained full-time at the University since 2016 and was the second athlete, after Gilliver, to join a wheelchair fencing programme, led by the UK Sports Institute (UKSI), that has gone from strength to strength during the past decade.

“I remember being in the Paralympic Village in Paris and taking a moment to reflect on how fortunate I was to be part of the University of Bath and how their support had helped me reach this unique environment,” he said. “The reason we have come back with so many medals is thanks to the work we do in the Team Bath Sports Training Village and the Wheelchair Fencing National Training Centre [opened in 2022] that we call home.”

Speaking on behalf of the support staff was David McNulty, Head Coach of the Aquatics GB Bath Performance Centre whose athletes – including Bird and triple Olympic Champion Tom Dean – have won 14 medals across the past four Olympic Games.

“The environment and atmosphere that the Team Bath staff give us at the STV is second to none,” he said. “I’ve said it many times but there is nowhere in the world that has the same feel when you walk in. We won two gold medals in Paris but I know we can do better and that has spurred us on to go again for LA 2028.”

Also attending the reception were Ted Allen, Vice-Lieutenant of Somerset; Cllr Karen Walker, Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council; Cllr Ruth Malloy, Deputy Mayor of Bath; and Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Find out more about sport at the University of Bath by visiting bath.ac.uk/sport and teambath.com.

Lead photo shows from left: Sofia Sjoborg, Kieran Bird, Dan Bethell, Freya Anderson, Dimitri Coutya, Professor Phil Taylor (University of Bath Vice-Chancellor), Jacob Whittle, Piers Gilliver, Stephen Baddeley (Director of Sport), Leah Crisp, Charlie Brown, Kate French and Henrique Mascarenhas.

With thanks to the Team Bath Press Office

Supported by Team Bath partners Rengen, the programme offers best-practice personal development and performance support to the students – all identified as having long-term athletic potential – as they seek to make the step up from pre-elite level to sustained sporting success.

As well as free access to the renowned facilities at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, Breakthrough athletes benefit from regular strength and conditioning sessions in the gym and recovery clinics in the Team Bath Physio and Sport Science Centre.

They can also speak to one of four on-campus Athlete Personal Development and Lifestyle (APDL) advisors, who offer advice and support as students navigate the demands of their dual sporting and academic careers. Round-the-clock mental health support is provided by the Sporting Wellness charity, and special consideration can be provided for academic flexibility should training camps or competition clash with coursework and exams.

Welcoming the 2024-25 intake of Breakthrough athletes, Performance Sport Officer Sarah Collin said: “We want to be the UK’s best environment for student-athletes to realise their academic and athletic potential, and the Breakthrough Programme is central to that goal.

“Our objectives are recruiting and developing a diverse range of exceptional people, delivering an environment which enables them to achieve their potential, and raising the University’s profile through sports performance and individual long-term impact.”

Rengen is the Main Partner of the Breakthrough Programme and the company’s CEO Iestyn Lewis is a passionate advocate for supporting student-athletes having himself combined a structural engineering degree at the University of Bath with a successful playing career at Bath Rugby.

“The reason I am able to do what I do now professionally is because of the support I received from the University as a student-athlete,” said Lewis. “It gave me an invaluable opportunity to study at the highest level while continuing to play elite sport, standing me in good stead for both parts of my career.

“I am delighted that we at Rengen can support these talented and dedicated young people on their sporting and academic journeys. I’m excited to see what they achieve in the months and years ahead.”

Rengen will publicly celebrate the achievements of Breakthrough Programme participants by awarding an Athlete of the Month accolade.

Student-athletes on this year’s programme participate in such diverse sports as air pistol shooting, American Football, artistic swimming, athletics, badminton, cricket, cycling, fencing, football, futsal, hockey, judo, karting, lacrosse, modern pentathlon, motorsport, netball, Olympic weightlifting, rowing, rugby (union and league), sailing, shooting, swimming, tennis, triathlon, wheelchair fencing and wheelchair tennis.

For more information about the Breakthrough Programme, visit teambath.com/breakthrough-programme.

Rengen, whose headquarters are based in Argyle Street in Bath city centre, has extensive experience in the development of boutique purpose-built student accommodation, residential accommodation and commercial units. Find out more by visiting rengendevelopments.com and rengenlettings.com.

With thanks to Team Bath

Overton’s promotion comes as 1FitLife Founder, David Langridge, transitions from the Managing Director role to focus on spearheading a new, high-potential project, as well as harnessing cutting-edge opportunities for both 1FitLife and Fitter Stock. Although Langridge steps into a strategic role, he remains committed to the business, continuing to support Overton and the team.

Since joining 1FitLife as an Account Manager in 2021, Overton, 30, has been instrumental in delivering impactful campaigns and wellbeing content for a prestigious client roster, including David Lloyd Clubs, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Slimming World and Parkinson’s UK. As she steps into her new role, Overton will lead 1FitLife’s comprehensive content services and end-to-end solutions in marketing strategy, brand conception and campaign development, encompassing video production, photograph, and design.

Overton’s career has been marked by a strong commitment to growth, including her completion of The Living Leader six-month leadership programme, guided by Total Fitness CEO Sophie Lawler, whose mentorship played a key role in Overton’s development as a leader.

Sharing her support Sophie Lawler, CEO Total Fitness says: “Jessica has shown incredible dedication and growth through our leadership programme, a true testament to her readiness for this role. As the first female CEO of a private-sector health club operator, I firmly believe in women’s capacity to exceed their own expectations. It’s inspiring to see Jessica bring that same drive to a senior leadership position. Under David and Anna Langridge’s support, she’s more than prepared to lead 1FitLife’s team.”

Commenting on her new role Overton states: “I’m incredibly excited to lead our talented team from our Bournemouth studios. Together, we’ll continue to build on our successes and explore new avenues to positively impact the health and wellbeing sector. This promotion is a major professional milestone, but it’s also a chance to inspire others, particularly young women, both within our company and beyond, to pursue their goals. My focus is on fostering an empowered team environment where everyone can thrive.”

David Langridge, Founder of 1FitLife and Fitter Stock says: “Jessica’s promotion signals an exciting new chapter for us. At just 30, she embodies the innovative energy that will propel 1FitLife and Fitter Stock forward. With her vision and commitment, I am confident she’ll not only sustain our progress but enhance it, leaving her unique mark on the business. While I’m devoting more time to emerging opportunities, my role remains steadfastly supportive, collaborating with Jessica and our team to ensure we deliver exceptional client results.

“With Jessica’s leadership and my own strategic oversight, 1FitLife and Fitter Stock are poised for continued growth and innovation, building on a shared mission to lead the fitness and wellness content market with impactful, creative solutions.”

With thanks to Big Fish PR

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Access, the development programme for under-represented creatives, and TNT Sports have today launched Reframe the Game, a new initiative created to give women filmmakers the opportunity to tell untold stories from across women’s sport. The programme, which opens to applicants today (Wednesday 06 November), will invite women filmmakers and directors to share a short documentary concept in response to the prompt ‘Tell us a story about women’s sport that needs to be told.’

Following review of the written submissions, ten applicants will be invited to join a week-long professional development programme; providing mentoring, masterclasses and workshops aiming to equip them with knowledge and exposure to both sports production and unscripted storytelling. The training week will culminate in a pitch day, presenting to a panel of industry experts and WBD senior executives who will select three filmmakers to create their short-form documentaries that will be broadcast on TNT Sports in 2025.

The three successful filmmakers will be supported by WBD and TNT Sports production teams, who will help produce the films and mentor the filmmakers throughout the process, they will also be awarded a production budget. Applications open today, Wednesday 06 November, and close at midnight on Friday 29 November. Full entry criteria and terms and conditions and programme timings can be seen here

Scott Young, SVP Content, Production and Business Operations at WBD Sports said “Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do, and we always want to see more diversity in the stories that we tell. We want to see more women in sport broadcast, both in front and behind the camera, and that is why we have launched this initiative, to encourage women filmmakers to consider the stories still to be told about women’s sport. I’m delighted TNT Sports is involved in Reframe the Game and we can’t wait to see the entries and bring these new and untold stories to our audiences.”

Jennifer Sobol, Director DEI Pipeline Programs said “Our vision at Warner Bros. Discovery is to empower storytellers to help shape and deliver more inclusive stories for our audiences. Reframe The Game will offer women filmmakers the opportunity to bring new perspectives and showcase diverse, inclusive narratives of women’s sport.

“Reframe the Game is the next programme from WBD Access, which champions new and exciting voices to gain experience, mentoring and training in the media sector and follows established programmes such as Black Britain Unspoken and the Waterloo Road Directors Programme.”

Warner Bros. Discovery offers audiences in the UK and Ireland a range of premium women’s sport including Premiership Women’s Rugby, UEFA Women’s Champions League football, domestic women’s football from France, Spain and Germany (via TNT Sports) as well as every point from every match at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the Tour de France Femmes and 100% of cycling’s women’s World Tour (via Eurosport).

To find out more about Reframe the Game and other programmes available via WBD Access please visit: https://www.warner-access.com/programs.

With thanks to Pitch

From 3rd to 12th October, London will host the second edition of the world’s biggest official franchise chess league. Featuring world number one Magnus Carlsen and a host of top-world Grandmasters, this will be one of the strongest chess tournaments ever held in the UK.

Created as a joint venture between Indian tech giant Tech Mahindra and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the league aims to bring chess to millions of fans worldwide through a fresh, competitive format that is unlike anything seen before in the sport.

Some of the strongest and most well-known players on the planet are competing, including five-time World Champion and current world number one Magnus Carlsen, former World Champion Viswanathan Anand, world number two and popular chess streamer Hikaru Nakamura, and one of the youngest players in the chess elite, 21-year-old Alireza Firouzja. Additionally, former Women’s World Champions Hou Yifan, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tan Zhongyi, and other leading Grandmasters are among the 36 players participating in this prestigious event.

“There’s incredible excitement as the Global Chess League Season 2 rolls out on October 3rd here in London. We are looking forward to having a great turnout with chess lovers coming into the Friends House to watch some thrilling matches between the world’s top players,” said Sameer Pathak, CEO of the Global Chess League.

Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), added, “This event is groundbreaking in both concept and format. It sets a new standard not only for chess but for sports worldwide. The initiative to combine men and women on the same team is inspiring and will greatly promote the game globally.”

World-class teams

The reigning champions, the Triveni Continental Kings, claimed victory in the inaugural edition held in July 2023 in Dubai, UAE, with a dramatic last-minute win over the Ganges Grandmasters. This year six teams – owned by major international companies – are participating in the league: Alpine SG Pipers, led by Magnus Carlsen; Ganges Grandmasters, led by Viswanathan Anand; upGrad Mumba Masters, led by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave; PBG Alaskan Knights, led by Anish Giri; Triveni Continental Kings, led by Alireza Firouzja; and American Gambits, led by Hikaru Nakamura.

Unique format

Each team consists of six players: one Icon Player (a top-rated Grandmaster rated 2700 or above), two world-class Grandmasters, two top-female players, and one player aged 21 or younger.
The teams will compete in a double round-robin format, meaning they will face every other team twice. In contrast to traditional chess tournaments, where each team has an equal number of players playing with black or white pieces, here, the entire team will play with one colour for the duration of a match and switch in the rematch. Each game lasts only 20 minutes, with no time increment, making time pressure a significant factor in the game.

A new scoring system

The scoring system resembles football more than traditional chess, where a win with either colour earns oje point, a draw earns half a point, and a loss earns no points. At the TechM GCL, a win with the black pieces earns 4 game points, while a win with white earns 3. A draw is worth 1 game point, and a loss earns no points. In terms of match points, a team victory is rewarded with 3 points, a draw with 1, and a loss with 0. After the round-robin phase, the two teams with the highest match points will advance to the final, which will be decided over two matches. If a tie occurs, blitz playoffs will determine the winner.

Where and when

The event takes place at Friends House, Euston (NW1 2BJ) with the first round starting on Thursday, 3rd October, at 13:15 London time. Each day will feature three matches (at 13:15, 15:55, and 17:15). The final will be held on Saturday, 12th October, with matches beginning at 13:15 and 14:35 London time.

Follow all the action live on chess.com.

For more information about the event, visit: https://globalchessleague.com/

Full Team list:

Full Team list:

Imogen won gold in the lightweight women’s double sculls with teammate Emily Craig at Paris 2024, before starting her first job as a doctor just three days after the Closing Ceremony. Her latest accolade has been awarded by the IOC in recognition of her efforts to help address climate change and make the world of sport more sustainable.

One of just two athletes to receive the award this year – the other being Bulgarian beach volleyball player Lina Taylor – Imogen has been honoured for her role in the launch of the Clean Water Sport Alliance to improve river health and water quality. She has also been instrumental in introducing new measures to help British Rowing’s National Training Centre in Caversham operate more sustainably, including composting of food waste, the recycling of plastic waste and the regular testing of water quality. As an ambassador for the Rivers Trust, Imogen has contributed to over 2,400 river surveys and inspired people to participate in water-testing campaigns and initiatives, as well as speaking at a number of events across the UK to raise awareness and educate athletes on sustainability.

Imogen said: “Sport is such a team effort, and so is sustainability. I am so grateful to the amazing people and organisations who have helped me speak up and use my athlete’s voice for more than just sport. I hope to continue inspiring others to take action, both on and off the field of play.”

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “This year’s winners of the IOC Climate Action Awards show that the Olympic Movement is taking its responsibilities seriously: reducing our impact, while inspiring others to take action. We congratulate the winners for their innovative and impactful projects that are making the world of sport more sustainable. We hope these efforts inspire others – in sport and beyond – to join the collective effort to address one of the toughest challenges our world is facing today.”

In 2022, Team GB signed up to the United Nations’ Sports for Climate Action Framework, making a commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and to reduce emissions by half by 2030.

Team GB’s Team GB’s Environmental Sustainability Plan outlines the ambitions, priorities and objectives that are guiding the organisation’s ongoing efforts to address climate change.

With thanks to Team GB

The support of Bath Building Society – this year marking 120 years of service to the local community – will help around 600 young people from the ages of two to 18 get active in a host of sports every week at the Team Bath Sports Training Village (STV).

Team Bath has nearly 30,000 interactions with children in sport each year, with Team Bath Tribe providing a range of term-time activities including athletics, badminton, football, netball, swimming and trampolining. Sessions take place after school and on Saturday mornings, while sporting camps during school holidays also prove very popular.

Bath Building Society is also supporting Team Bath Futures, the talent development programme which provides bespoke training programmes and support for emerging athletes in a wide range of sports.

Futures is tailored to three different age groups – Next Gen, providing an all-round sporting foundation for children in School Years 5-7; Blue, providing an introduction to strength and conditioning training for School Years 7-9; and Gold, preparing athletes in School Years 10-13 for the transition into adult training and competition.

Bath Building Society has been an overall sponsor of Team Bath – the sporting arm of the University of Bath – since 2022. The partnership is part of its plans to build stronger links with the community and grow membership of 16 to 35-year-olds, encouraging and helping them to save effectively and to get onto the mortgage ladder.

Richard Ingle, Chief Executive at Bath Building Society, said: “We’re delighted to be able to put our support behind the Team Bath youth programme supporting young, local people who might one day become our local athletes. Being able to help make a difference in the community is incredibly rewarding for our team and we love the connections it creates, inspiring the next generation of young athletes through the strong community programme benefiting from the enthusiasm, talent, and training at the Team Bath Sports Training Village.”

Team Bath have been helping children get active through the Tribe programme for the past two decades. As well as the regular term-time and holiday sessions at the STV Tribe also delivers outreach sessions in many of the primary and secondary schools in Bath and North East Somerset [BANES], offering visits and collaborative work with the local School Sports Partnership Team.

Tribe has also hosted and delivered the annual Key Stage One Festival for the past 20 years, two fun-packed days of multi-sport and creative medal-making sessions at the STV which engages more than 400 children from BANES primary schools and introduces them to different activities.

More than 2,000 pupils from year groups 1-13 from across the country also enjoy bespoke visits to the STV each year, taking part in multi-skill assessments, fundamental movement skills, sports-specific sessions, career guidance and athlete question and answer sessions.

Jess Clements, Sports Development Manager at the University of Bath, said: “Tribe is all about fostering a love of sport from a young age by making it accessible, fun and inspirational, then helping children progress into competitive sport if they so wish and develop their talent through Futures. A huge thank you to Bath Building Society for supporting this goal.”

A new term of after-school and Saturday activities is under way at the STV, with parents able to pay monthly by direct debit. Half-term holiday camps, running from 28th October to 1st November inclusive, are also now available to book. Visit teambath.com/tribe to see the full timetable and how to book.

Futures has also resumed after the summer break and there is a free taster evening for potential new athletes on Friday 18th October. Further details of what the programme offers and how to get involved can be found at teambath.com/Futures.

Bath Building Society (BBS) was established in 1904 to offer savings and mortgages to the local community. Today, while it is still considered a small mutual society, it continues to operate successfully, servicing over 20,000 savers, 1,200 mortgage customers and employing over 80 staff. It maintains a local branch infrastructure in Bath. Visit www.bathbuildingsociety.co.uk to find out more.

With thanks to Team Bath

Bronze Olympic medallist and Alumna (Old Queenian), Rebecca Wilde, returned to Queen’s College on Monday to share her experiences and inspire the next generation of athletes.

Rebecca was welcomed at the school’s entrance by Director of Sport, Mr Tom Bell, before the two toured the campus, allowing Rebecca to reminisce about her time at Queen’s. Stops along the way included the gym and swimming pool, where her long journey to the Paris 2024 Olympics began.

“It was a pleasure to welcome Becky back to Queen’s,” said Mr Tom Bell. “Her journey is an inspiration to all the pupils here. It speaks volumes of Becky’s character that so soon after the Games she took the time to visit and share her with the next generation of aspiring athletes.”

During her visit, Rebecca attended a special assembly, staged talk show style with Mr Tom Bell acting as host. Pupils had the chance to ask Rebecca questions about her experiences as an Olympian. Students found her stories of the games fascinating and that her advice was applicable to a wide range of scenarios outside of sport including handling nerves ahead of exams and large performances.

Rebecca also stopped by the gym, where pupils were participating in a rowing challenge to match her impressive Double Sculls Olympic time for 500 metres. Despite their best efforts, none of the pupils were able to beat the Olympian’s time – although they were certainly motivated to try and Rebecca was very impressed with some of the times!

Later, Rebecca enjoyed lunch with the school’s sports scholars, where they discussed topics such as mental and physical preparation, training, and nutrition. She offered advice and encouragement to the aspiring athletes, sharing her insights into what it takes to compete at the highest level.

With thanks to Queens College

The collaboration focuses on enhancing tennis development at all levels, with an emphasis on coaching, product innovation and player progression.

The partnership will integrate four of Team Bath Tennis’ leading coaches into the ASICS Tennis Academy. Tom Osborne (Head of Club Tennis), Ian MacDonald (Head of Performance), Lauren English (Regional Player Development Centre Head Coach) and Jordan Frederick (U18 Performance Coach) join the Academy, a global network of tennis professionals sharing expertise in coaching, training and mental wellbeing.

ASICS and Team Bath Tennis – based at the University of Bath’s renowned Sports Training Village – aim to work closely on various projects to support and develop both local talent and the wider tennis community.

A key focus of the partnership is product innovation. ASICS will work with Team Bath coaches and players to gather insights and feedback, helping shape future tennis kit for all levels. Workshops and events at the Bath venue will support both product development and coach education.

This collaboration will provide education and upskilling opportunities for coaches across the UK. Using the expertise of the ASICS Tennis Academy, it aims to support coach development through mentorship, workshops, and content creation, ultimately enhancing coaching standards and fostering player development at all levels.

Tom Osborne, Head of Club Tennis, said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with ASICS and engaging with the brand’s expertise and leadership in tennis. This partnership, the only one of its kind with ASICS in the UK, will help solidify Team Bath Tennis as a national centre of excellence and provide international recognition.”

The partnership will also feature trial events at Team Bath Tennis, where players of all abilities can experience ASICS’ latest products and join workshops promoting physical and mental wellbeing.
Team Bath Tennis players will have exclusive access to ASICS products.

With a refurbished indoor tennis centre and a new term of coaching sessions starting this week, the partnership promises lasting benefits for both players and coaches.

For more information about Team Bath Tennis and the new coaching term, visit teambath.com/tennis.

With thanks to the Team Bath Press Office