St Mary's Student Selected for the GB Boxing Olympic Squad

Bsc Sport Science and BA Business Management student at St Mary’s University, Twickenham Joshua Buatsi has been selected for the GB Boxing Olympic Squad set to compete at Rio 2016. Joshua, who competes in the 81kg Light Heavyweight classification, joins eight other boxers that qualified for Rio 2016 at the European Olympic Qualification Event in Samsun, Turkey. At the competition Joshua achieved a Gold medal, defeating boxers from Belarus, Spain, and the Ukraine on his way to the final. Joshua fought Peter Mullenberg from the Netherlands, defeating him 5-0. Speaking of his selection Director of Sport St Mary’s Andrew Reid-Smith said, “The Olympic boxing qualification process is particularly tough. Joshua has performed brilliantly beating the top three seeds on his way to winning the final and securing his Team GB selection for Rio. St Mary’s is delighted for Joshua and wish him and the GB team every success at the Games.” St Mary’s has now seen two athletes achieve Olympic qualification for Rio 2016 including Team Canada's Leonora MacKinnon, Women’s Epee Fencing. Alumnus Moe Sbihi has also been selected to row at the European Rowing Championships, ahead of the Olympic selections. 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 medalist and GB’s best ever distance runner, Rebecca Romero, an Olympic medalist in two different sports rowing and cycling making her one of GB’s greatest ever Olympians, and Moe Sbihi, London 2012 Bronze Medalist 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.