Student Selected for 2013 World University Games

A student at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham has been selected to compete for Great Britain at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia this July. Tom Reed, who is currently studying for an MSc in Strength and Conditioning at St Mary’s, has been practising judo since he was eight years old and has been selected to represent Team GB at the prestigious event for the third time. Over the last 19 years, Tom has won numerous competitions in the sport including the 2012 British Championships, Bronze and Silver medals in the 2006 and 2007 European U23 Championships, and is four times Continental Open medallist, and five times Continental Cup medallist. Tom trains at Bath University but will be competing on behalf of St Mary’s at the World University Games, his first time to do so. He commented, “2013 will be the last year that I will be eligible to compete in the Games, so I am very happy to have been selected and to be competing on behalf of St Mary’s. I am determined to perform my best and come home with a medal. “My first World University Games was very encouraging as I won three fights, and was only a young member of the team. However, in 2011, I was disappointed to lose the first round but it has made me even more determined to take a medal this time around.” After the Games, which takes place on 5^th to 17^th July, Tom plans to continue competing, with the aim to work towards the Olympic qualification period, which starts in May next year. St Mary’s Director for Sport Andrew Reid-Smith commented, “‘Tom’s selection for three World University Games is a significant achievement, I’m sure he will enjoy the experience and St Mary’s wishes him every success.”