Ex-students' Commonwealth triumphs 'inspirational'

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.

>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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