Gold Medal for St Mary's Alumnus

Alumnus of St Mary’s University, Twickenham Moe Sbihi has won a Gold Medal rowing in the Men’s Four at Rio 2016. Having won both their heat and semi-finals with comfortable margins, the crew completed the 2km course in a time of 5:58.61, ahead of second place Australia by almost a length. His victory comes after an already successful start to the rowing season with as the Men’s Four we’re crowned European champions in May, hosted in Germany. Moe studied a BSc Sport Science with Health, Nutrition and Exercise as part of a sports scholarship at St Mary’s and addressed the School of Sport, Health and Applied Science gradation ceremony in 2015, He has seen his career go from strength to strength in recent years, having been part of the crew that won the Bronze medal in the Men’s Eight at the London 2012 Olympic Games. He has since won five Gold medals and one Silver at the World and European Championships. 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.