Celebrating success at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
It was Team GB's most successful Olympics for over 100 years. And Sheffield Hallam played a key role in supporting some of the highest profile achievements.
Olympians pay tribute
Some of the leading names from London 2012 have paid tribute to the role we played in shaping their careers and helping them deliver a successful Games.
As performance director for British Cycling, David Brailsford was responsible for the most successful team in the GB squad, delivering a total of 12 medals, including eight golds. He described his MBA from Sheffield Hallam's Business School as 'pivotal' in underpinning his philosophy.
Another major success story of London 2012 has been the Games Makers, over 200 of which were Sheffield Hallam students.
We had more volunteers at the Games than any other university as a result of our unique partnership with the London Organising Committee, described by its chief executive Paul Deighton as 'the most significant partnership we have with any educational institution in the country by a long way.'
The support behind the medals
We provided sport science support and training facilities for medal-winning athletes from across the globe. Some of our highlights included
- medal success for a number of GB teams that have been supported by our sports research centres, including GB Boxing, who used our iBoxer video analysis software to help deliver a record-breaking haul of five medals, including three golds
- six medals won by athletes based at the EIS Sheffield, our official sport campus – including Sheffield's own golden girl Jess Ennis
- four medals – including their first ever female gold medal – won by Brazil Judo, who used our sports facilities to prepare for the Games
Team GB's total gold medal tally of 29 may have surpassed national expectation but in fact it was just two away from the 27 golds predicted by our Sports Industry Research Centre, whose forecast of a third place finish in the medal table was proved correct.
Our partnership work in supporting the London Olympics, and in doing so bringing cultural and economic benefits to Sheffield, was recognised with an outstanding achievement award at the 2012 Sheffield Business Awards.
Looking ahead to 2016
The University is already putting plans in place to ensure our staff and students are at the heart of the next round of major global sporting events.
A new partnership agreement with the Brazilian Ministry of Sport will see the University work with the Brazilian government, sports bodies and elite teams to provide sport science support, along with opportunities for students to get involved in Rio 2016.
Meanwhile we continue to work with Russian officials on similar agreements for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, having previously signed an agreement with the Russian International Olympic University.
Back home, we're at the forefront of a major Olympic legacy initiative with the creation of a £10 million institute forming part of the country's first ever National Sports and Exercise Medicine Centre of Excellence.
The institute, developed in partnership with University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, will focus on promoting physical activity and improving the health and productivity of the people of Sheffield.
London 2012 - celebrating our success
'The great advantage Jess (Ennis) has is living in one of the world's best kept secrets. If you want to prepare for an Olympic Games, and train for an Olympics, in a level-headed community, move to Sheffield.'
Lord Coe, LOCOG Chair
'We will never forget the smiles, the kindness and the support of the wonderful volunteers, the much-needed heroes of these Games.'
Jacques Rogge, International Olympic Committee
'This is the most significant partnership we have with any educational institution in the country by a long way. It's fantastic for us because we get terrific people, who are highly motivated and well trained. And what better way for students to be entering the workforce and to be looking for a future career than to have had this kind of experience integrated into your education.'
Paul Deighton, LOCOG chief executive
Congratulations to SHU student Georgy Callingham who finished 7th in the Paralympic 10m air rifle competition
