Vanessa Lam
29 September 2016: Impressive performances on the Rio track saw University of Canberra students and alumni claim five medals including two gold and one silver at the Paralympic and Olympic Games.
University of Canberra athletes won a total of five medals in Rio, in swimming, cycling and athletics. Four medals were scooped up at the Paralympics, with student Scott Reardon winning gold in the T4 men’s 100 metre, and alumna Susan Powell collecting silver in the women’s C4 3,000 metre individual pursuit.
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Deep Saini said the University was cheering on all of its students, staff and alumni competing in this year’s Rio games.
“We are extremely proud of our athletes and their achievements at the Paralympic and Olympic Games and I congratulate them all on their hard work and dedication to their chosen sport,” Professor Saini said.
“The University of Canberra aspires to be the leading university for sports education and research and helping our elite athletes to achieve in their sport is an important part of that.”
The University supports student athletes in managing their study alongside their training commitments as part of Elite Athlete Friendly University network. The University of Canberra currently has more than 70 student elite athletes, one of the highest numbers in Australia.
Read about how our athletes fared below.
Olympic Games
Communications alumnus James Roberts joined teammates James Magnussen, Kyle Chalmers and Cameron McEvoy to win bronze in the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay final.
Australian Opals stars Stephanie Talbot, who is studying sport and exercise science, and alumna and University of Canberra Capitals centre Marianna Tolo helped the team to a fifth place finish. The Opals went down to Serbia 73-71 in the quarter finals.
Sports management alumna Edwina Bone was in the Hockeyroos side that went down 4-2 to New Zealand in the quarter finals.
On the track, psychology alumna Lauren Wells fell just short of the women’s 400 metre hurdles final finishing seventh in her semi-final.
Sport coaching and exercise science alumna Kelsey-Lee Roberts finished 13th in the qualifying round of the javelin throw.
Alumnae Regan Lamble and Rachel Tallent finished ninth and 40th respectively in the women’s 20 kilometre walk.
Cyclist Gracie Elvin, who is studying a Bachelor of Science, made her Olympics debut in the women’s road race placing 49th.
Sports and exercise science and sports management student Josh Katz was eliminated by Uzbekistan's Diyorbek Urozboev in round 32 of the men’s judo under-60kg division.
Paralympic Games
Alumna and professional associate Dr Susan Powell won Australia’s first medal of the Paralympic Games with silver in the women’s C4 3,000 metre individual pursuit.
Education and science student Scott Reardon won the gold medal in the T4 men’s 100 metre.
Landscape architecture student Evan O’Hanlon took out silver in the T38 men’s 100 metre.
Michael Roeger, who is studying a Bachelor of Communications in Advertising won bronze in the T46men’s 1,500 metre, while alumnus Brad Scott placed fifth in the T37 men’s 1,500 metre event.
In the pool, sports management student Matthew Haanappel competed in five events. He placed fifth in the men’s 50 metre freestyle as well as in the 4x100 metre freestyle (34 points) relay. He also placed sixth in the 100 metre, 400m freestyle events and in the mixed 4x50 metre freestyle (20 points) relay.
Bachelor of Politics and International Relations and Bachelor of Commerce student Jesse Aungles placed fourth in the 4x100 metre medley (34 points) relay, sixth in the 200 metre individual medley, the 100 metre backstroke and the 100 metre butterfly and eighth in the 400 metre freestyle.
In rowing, nursing student Kathryn Ross and partner Gavin Bellis finished second in the B final of their event.
