St Mary's Alumnus Selected for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Alumnus of St Mary’s University, Twickenham Toby Gold has been selected to compete for Team GB in the Men’s T33 Wheelchair Racing.

Toby’s selection for Rio 2016 follows a very successful start to the year. As a four time European record holder, Toby became the European Champion in the T33 100m at Grosetto 2016.

Toby joins David Weir, who regularly trains at St Mary’s, who will be competing in five competitions and alumna Corrine Hall, who will be piloting Lora Turnham in the 3km track pursuit, 30km road time trial and 90km road race, at the Rio Paralympic Games.

Speaking of his selection Toby said, “I could not be more proud to have been selected. It now proves to me more than anything, that with the right mind-set and support anything is possible - this is just the start of something great!"

Director of Sport St Mary’s Andrew Reid-Smith said, “Toby started his competitive wheelchair racing in 2012, he has already won a Bronze at the IPC Athletics World Champs and after becoming European Champion earlier this year, Rio will see him making his Olympic debut. Dave is competing in his fifth Paralympics and will be looking to add to this incredible tally of six Golds. Following on from London we look forward to watching the ParalympicsGB team produce more memorable world-class performances.”

Toby also joins a group of 19 other students, athletes and alumni from St Mary’s taking part in the Olympics and Paralympics at Rio 2016, representing their countries in a host of sports including Track and Field, Boxing, Rowing, and Fencing, amongst others. Find out more here.

St Mary’s has a proud history of Olympic and Paralympic success. The University’s sporting alumni include Mo Farah, the London 2012 double gold medallist and GB’s best ever distance runner, Rebecca Romero, an Olympic medallist in two different sports rowing and cycling making her one of GB’s greatest ever Olympians, and Moe Sbihi, London 2012 Bronze Medallist and World Champion Rower. Dave Weir, winner of four gold medals at the London Paralympics, trains at St Mary’s using the world-class facilities and support services.

As part of St Mary’s contribution to the London Games the University supported athletes from ten different nations and provided Pre Games Training Camps for China, South Africa, Japan and Ireland. Based on London 2012 medals won St Mary’s finished sixth, the highest placed London institution, in Podium’s league table for universities.

Lord Coe, the chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and President of the IAAF, opened St Mary’s latest sports facilities. International athletes competing at the Games used these facilities, which continue to provide a sporting legacy for students, staff and local community alike.