18 Aug 08

Former Oxford students helped Team GB to gold and silver medals in the Olympic rowing events.

Oxford’s former students competing in the Olympic Games in Beijing have had an impressive weekend securing an array of gold and silver medals.

Last week Daisy Dick won a bronze medal in Eventing and now her Oxford alumni Team GB colleagues have added to her win.

On Saturday 16 August, Peter Reed and Andy Triggs-Hodge won a gold medal apiece in the rowing four, while Acer Nethercott and Colin Smith won silver in the men’s rowing eight – accompanied by Josh West who is a University researcher.

On Sunday 17 August, Paul Mattick made the rowing finals of the lightweight four and came in fifth place, while USA rower Jamie Schroeder took the same spot in the quadruple sculls final.

Buffy Williams of Canada, who studied at St Hughs in 2004, got fourth place in the women’s eight final. Another Canadian former student, Jake Wetzel, won gold for Canada in their men's eight.

And in addition to this, George Bridgewater, a New Zealand rower who is due to come to Oxford University to study for his MBA at Oriel College after the Olympics, won a bronze medal in the men’s rowing pair final.

But Oxford’s former students impressed in more than just the rowing. Mara Yamauchi, who studied at St Anne’s in 1992, surpassed Paula Radcliffe to come sixth in the women’s marathon, equalling the best finish in an Olympic marathon by a British woman.