St Mary's Student Buatsi Guaranteed Boxing Bronze in Rio

Student at St Mary’s University, Twickenham Joshua Buatsi has made it to the Semi-finals of with Men’s Light-Heavyweight Boxing at Rio 2016 with a guaranteed Bronze medal. Joshua faced Algerian boxer Abdelhafic Benchabla, ranked fourth in the world, in his quarterfinal, defeating him comfortably in a points victory across the three rounds. Following a successful start to the tournament, scoring the first technical knockout of the Games in his first bout and defeating the third seed by knockout in his second bout, Joshua heads into the semi-finals against Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov on Tuesday 16^th August at 10.45pm in good form. Director of Sport Andrew Reid-Smith said, “Joshua is having a wonderful Olympic Games. Against far more experienced opponents he has dominated his fights and will be the first of the GB boxers to win a medal. Having made the semis with two stoppage wins and a win by a considerable margin, there's no doubt that Joshua will be going all out to win Gold.” St Mary’s has a proud history of Olympic and Paralympic success. The University’s sporting alumni include Mo Farah, the Rio 2016 Gold Medallist and 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. Moe Sbihi, Rio 2016 Gold Medallist and London 2012 Bronze Medallist and World Champion Rower is almost amongst our alumni while 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.