WORLD UNI GAMES ONE OF STRONGEST EVER

By Lee Taylor | 23 August 2007

A spectacular closing ceremony brought the 2007 World University Games to an end in Bangkok, Thailand, with Britain having won ten medals in total - at an event where the standard was universally recognised as little short of outstanding.

One gold, four silvers and five bronze medals made up the haul, with Team GBR also recording more personal bests than ever before. The podium places were won across five sports – the first time for at least five Games.

Simeon Williamson was Team GBR’s gold medallist, with victory in the 100m – a race he had to win twice before finally getting his hands on his honour. After initially crossing the line in 10.28 seconds, the Middlesex university student was later adjudged to have false started and officials ruled that the race must be run again. However the European U23 Champion was not to be denied his crown, and in the pouring rain he finished even quicker to ensure the title of Champion was undoubtedly his, coming home in 10.22.

Elsewhere there were silver medals for athlete Kadi-Ann Thomas (Brunel), shooter Rachel Parish (Southampton), swimmer Andrew Hunter (University of Stirling) and golfer Charles Ford (Tennessee), whilst bronze medals were picked up by runner Charlotte Best (Loughborough), the women’s 4x400m track relay team, Matt Clay and Darren Mew (both Bath) in the pool and fencer, Lawrence Halsted (Sussex University).

The standard of competition has been exceptional throughout the ten days, with numerous Games records being broken across the board – something which can be overlooked when talking about the Universiade.

Several nations included World Champions in their squads, as well as many Olympic hopefuls, all enhancing their preparations ahead of Beijing this time next year.

Team GBR’s chef de mission, Iain Moir, was delighted with the overall performance of the British squad especially given the competition they faced in Bangkok.

“Given the extremely high standard overall, the British team can be proud of their performances,” said Moir. “We brought a relatively young and inexperienced team to Bangkok, and we have had many excellent personal performances which haven’t resulted in a medal because of the standard here,” he added.

“The medal table does not reflect the success we have had as a delegation here. I thought we’d get ten to twelve medals before we came out – and before I knew how difficult that would actually be – and we’ve managed to get ten. That is a great achievement and I’m very pleased for everyone here. Many governing bodies have had to sponsor their athletes in order for them to attend, and I am in no doubt that it has been money well spent.”

China finished top of the medal table with Russia second and the Ukraine third.

The next World University Games will be held in Belgrade, Serbia, in 2009.

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