Griffith student athletes qualify for Rio

Cameron McEvoy, Bachelor of Science (Advanced Honours) student.
Cameron McEvoy, Bachelor of Science (Advanced Honours) student.

Griffith Sports College is celebrating the success of its members this week with 10 student athletes qualifying for the Rio Olympics.

Six students, including Cameron “The Professor” McEvoy and para-athlete Rowan Crothers, qualified during the Australian Swimming Championships with other students qualifying in rowing and water polo.

Cam McEvoy, a Bachelor of Science with Advanced Honours student, has made headlines around the world after he torched the trials pool with wins in the 200m, 100m and 50m freestyle, with his 100m time setting a new Commonwealth and Australian record.

His swimming cap, which showed the signature of a gravitational wave as a tribute to Albert Einstein and his love of science, has also intrigued the world.

World champion 4x100m relay gold medallist Emma McKeon, smiling poolside
Bachelor of Public Health (Health Promotion) student Emma McKeon will make her Olympic debut at Rio.

Upcoming and coming swim star Emma McKeon, a Bachelor of Public Health (Health Promotion) student, is making her Olympic debut after qualifying in five events

“This is something that I have wanted to do from a very young age, so now that I’ve made the team I’m still a bit overwhelmed,” she said.

“I think it is just know that I still have a lot of hard work to do in the lead up to the Games is keeping me pretty grounded.

In the lead up to Rio, the Griffith Sports College will be working closely with its students to ensure they continue to balance their sporting commitments with their studies.

“The Sports College has supported me so much over the last few years in balancing my swimming and studies,” Emma said.

“It makes it a lot easier staying on top of things knowing you have that support when things start to get busy or overwhelming with training, competition and travel.”

Griffith Sports College Director Duncan Free OAM.
Griffith Sports College Director Duncan Free OAM.

Griffith Sports College Director and former Olympic gold medallist Duncan Free OAM said one of the best things about his job is watching our students on their journeys.

“It’s always extremely enjoyable to track a student’s sporting results, particularly leading into an Olympic Games,” he said.

“The support we provide them makes that bit of difference to allow them to achieve such great things and it’s nice to think that Griffith Sports College had a small role in that.”

Duncan anticipates another four students will also qualify for Rio with their trials coming up over the next few weeks.

Our Rio athletes

Bachelor of Public Relations and Communications student Rowan Crothers has been awarded the first Griffith University and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Sporting Excellence Scholarship.
Bachelor of Public Relations and Communications student Rowan Crothers.

Jess Hall, rowing (Bachelor of Psychological Science)

Madeleine Edmunds, rowing (Bachelor of Business)

Emma McKeon, swimming (Bachelor of Public Health, Health Promotion)

Jessica Ashwood, swimming (Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice)

Madison Wilson, swimming (Bachelor of Social Work)

Cameron McEvoy, swimming (Bachelor of Science with advanced honours)

Ashleigh Southern, water polo (Bachelor of Business)

David Edwards, para-cycling (Bachelor of Psychology honours)

Rowan Crothers, swimming para-events (Bachelor of Public Relations and Communications)

Matthew McShane, wheelchair basketball (Bachelor of Industrial Design)

 

Likely to qualify for Olympic selection

Domonic Bedggood, diving (Bachelor of Sport Development)

Tameka Butt, soccer (Master Business/Master Marketing)

Clare Polkinhorne, soccer (Master Criminology and Criminal Justice)

Nakita Pablo, synchronised swimming (Bachelor of Science)