Ex-students' Commonwealth triumphs 'inspirational'
· Yahoo Sports
The University of Wolverhampton has praised three former students who won medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Judo athletes Acelya Toprak and Kelly Petersen-Pollard claimed gold in their categories, with fellow graduate and Olympian Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown securing bronze, prompting university celebrations.
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The England trio are graduates of the university's Sport and Exercise Science programme.
"To see three of our graduates reach the podium at a major international sporting event is an incredible achievement and reflects the quality, dedication and resilience they have demonstrated throughout their careers," Ross Cloak, from the university, said.
Toprak won gold in the under-57kg category, with Petersen-Pollard triumphing in the under-70kg division and Katie Yeats-Brown claimed third spot on the podium in the under-63kg category.
Acelya Toprak won gold in the under-57kg category in Glasgow [Getty Images]University sports scholar and midwifery student Shelley Ludford also represented England in judo, finishing fifth in the under-78kg category, ahead of graduating this summer.
"Acelya, Kelly and Katie are all outstanding ambassadors for the University of Wolverhampton and for the sport of judo," Cloak, associate professor of sport and exercise science at the university, said.
"Their success on the Commonwealth stage is inspirational for our current students and demonstrates what can be achieved through talent, hard work and commitment.
"We are also incredibly proud of Shelley Ludford's achievement in representing England while balancing her studies as a sport scholar.
"Finishing fifth at a major international competition is a fantastic accomplishment and further demonstrates the calibre of athletes developing at the university."
Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown, an Olympian, won bronze [Getty Images]The university has a strong track record of supporting elite athletes and helping students balance academic achievement with sporting excellence.
It said success stories like these demonstrate the opportunities available to students who want to pursue careers in sport, health and performance disciplines.
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