NINE talented young athletes have come up to the starting line as the first group to sign up for the University of Winchester’s Elite Sport programme.
The new programme is currently aimed at track and field athletics but there are plans to expand into other sports.
It gives student-athletes the chance to gain an excellent degree while receiving high level sport-specific training to continue in their sport.
They are provided with expert coaching at the university’s highly-rated track and field sport stadium, strength and conditioning coaching, sport massage, sport therapy, and additional academic support through the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) dual career programme.
Students on the new programme described it as a “fantastic opportunity for me to train like a professional athlete while I get the degree I want” and “the support we get both for our sport as well as the help for our academic study is amazing, coming to Winchester was the best decision I’ve ever made”.
To qualify for the programme, all student-athletes had to meet performance criteria and/or received a representative vest at county or county schools level or above at age Under-17 and upwards.
Head of the programme, Dr Steve Smith said: “I’m delighted to welcome the first cohort on to the Elite Sport Programme. They are a very talented group and I look forward to watching them develop and improve at Winchester. I’m confident we shall soon be able to report on some medal-winning performances.”
The athletes and their clubs are as follows:
To find out more about the programme visit Elite Sport Programme and TASS - University of Winchester
Pictured: The University of Winchester’s Elite Athletes at the university’s running track at the Winchester Stadium. From left to right: Helen Thomas (Sport Facilites and Development Manager), Freya Brennand, Sadie Blake Mia Stares (S&C Coach), Harry Harvey, Andy Fisher (Head Coach), Adam Timpson, Ryan Hawkins, Callum Lorimer, Jack Le Tissier and Dr Steve Smith (Head of Programme). Absent from the photo are George Asprey and Jonah McCafferty.
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