This week Cardiff Metropolitan University held a breakfast at the National Indoor Athletics Centre at the Cyncoed campus to say goodbye and good luck to all athletes and support staff taking part in this year’s Commonwealth Games.
Cardiff Met has an impressive 40 athletes and 12 support staff representing Team Wales, England, Guernsey and Jersey across 11 sports, all of whom have studied or work at the University. Cardiff Met has an enviable reputation for producing world class athletes in many disciplines and this is demonstrated by the range of sports represented.
From athletics to boxing and hockey to cycling, Cardiff Met will be in the thick of competition from day one of the Commonwealth Games and Stef Collins, Gold Coast silver medallist herself from 2018 where she captained the England Basketball Squad in 5 v 5 and who is now coaching the 3v3 game, is excited to be involved:
“Cardiff Met does a great job of supporting you – you’ve got the facilities here and the support staff and everything that helps you develop as a person and as an athlete and that speaks for itself based on how much success there has been with how many Welsh athletes there are now at these Games.”
When asked about the Cardiff Met mindset, Stef said: “There’s one tag line that has always stood strong with me which I experienced in the 2012 Olympics is that ‘better never stops’ so it’s knowing that, OK, you’ve put in all this hard work and you’ve gone through this process from where you’ve started to where you’ve wanted to end up but it never feels quite finished or polished …. but you want more, you want to go and see what else you can do.”
A former Olympian with Team GB, Stef studied a Master’s in Sports Development and Coaching at Cardiff Met and is now on the staff as a coach of the Cardiff Met Archers WBBL Team.
Dan Rabbitt (Judo U60Kg) spoke passionately about how Cardiff Met has helped him prepare for this sporting highlight:
“Cardiff Met has given me the confidence to speak to my lecturers about managing my time between study and training and that communication and understanding helped me get through my undergrad degree. They have helped me to balance and manage my time in a healthy way and without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Seeing off the athletes, Director of Sport, Ben O’Connell said:
“The Cardiff Met delegation for this year’s Commonwealth Games demonstrates the extent to which sport is integrated into our DNA. As a University, we sit firmly on the global map due to our unparalleled sports facilities, the dedication of our staff and our unique sport system.
“On behalf of the entire Cardiff Met community, I would like to wish all athletes and support staff the very best of luck in Birmingham. You are part of a special university and we are immensely proud of you all.”
Keep up to date in the build up to the Commonwealth Games by following Cardiff Met Sport on Twitter at @CMetSport and Instagram at cardiffmetsport as well as @cardiffmet main Twitter feed.
Cardiff Met students, staff and alumni taking part in the Commonwealth Games 2022:
| Jeremiah Azu | Athletics | 100m |
| Joe Brier | Athletics | 400m |
| Hannah Brier | Athletics | 200m |
| Piers Copeland | Athletics | 1500m |
| Jenny Nesbitt | Athletics | 5000m |
| Aled Sion Davies | Athletics | Discus, F42-44/F61-64 |
| Jake Hayward | Athletics | 1500m |
| Jonny Hopkins | Athletics | 3000m SC |
| Adele Nicoll | Athletics | Shot |
| Julie Rogers | Athletics | Discus, F42-44/F61-64 |
| Harrison Walsh | Athletics | Discus, F42-44/F61-64 |
| Charlotte Arter | Athletics | 10000m |
| Harrison Walsh | Athletics | Discus, F42-44/F61-64 |
| Rosie Eccles | Boxing | 70Kg |
| Harvey McNaughton | Cycling | Team Pursuit, Kilo |
| Daniel Rabbitt | Judo | U60Kg |
| Jasmine Hacker-Jones | Judo | U63Kg |
| Ashley Barnikel | Judo | U48kg |
| Fay Pitman | Weightlifting | 71Kg |
| Iestyn Harret | Triathlon | Mixed relay and individual |
| Isabel Morris | Triathlon | Individual Female |
| Rhys James- | Triathlon | Guide |
| Gemma Frizelle | Gymnastics | Rhythmic |
| Gareth Furlong | Hockey – Men | Player |
| Dale hutchinson | Hockey – Men | Player |
| Joe Naughalty | Hockey – Men | Player |
| Luke Hawker | Hockey – Men | Player – Captain |
| James Carson | Hockey – Men | Player |
| Jo Westwood | Hockey – Women | Player |
| Livvy Hoskins | Hockey – Women | Player |
| Ella Jackson | Hockey – Women | Player |
| Jade Atkin | Wheelchair 3 v 3 | Player |
| Ollie Turner | Jersey | Triathlon |
| Josh Lewis | Guernsey | Triathlon |
| Suzy Drane | Netball | Player / co-captain |
| Nia Jones | Netball | Player / co-captain |
| Bethan Dyke | Netball | Player |
| Georgia Rowe | Netball | Player |
| Owen Jenkins | Rugby 7’s | Player |
| Sam Cross | Rugby 7’s | Player |
| Support Staff | ||
| Nick Wakely | WRU | Assistant Coach |
| Matt Elias | Guernsey Athletics | Coach |
| Stef Collins | England Basketball – 3v3 | Coach |
| Rhi Galvin | Hockey – Women | Analyst |
| Rebecca Daniels | Hockey – Women | Programme Manager |
| Danny Newcome | Hockey – Men | Head Coach |
| Alison Harrison | Netball | Umpire |
| Sara Moore | Netball | Head Coach |
| Gemma Davies | Netball | Performance Analyst |
| James Thie | Athletics | Coach |
| Ryan Spencer-Jones | Athletics | Coach |
| Nathan Stephens | Athletics | Disability Sport Wales – Performance Pathway lead |
| Team Wales Staff | ||
| Cathy Williams | Team Wales | Head of Engagement |
| Anna Stembridge | Team Wales | Non Exec Director |
| Dr Dan Clements | Team Wales | General Team Manager for Performance |
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