A record-breaking seven past and present Durham University students have been chosen to represent their respective home nations at the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games.
Six sporting stars will be representing Team GB in Hockey and Rowing, as well as one recent graduate who will be representing Canada in Fencing. The athletes were recently congratulated during a group Zoom call with Durham University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Corbridge.
Leading the way to Tokyo is twenty-one-year-old Fiona Crackles, a Sport and Exercise Sciences student in her second year, representing Team GB as part of the women’s hockey squad.
“The fact that I am now part of Team GB gives me goosebumps.”
Tokyo Olympics: Durham University stars going for gold thenorthernecho.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenorthernecho.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Tim Sigsworth and Toby Donegan-Cross
Durham University’s outgoing Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Professor Stuart Corbridge, has claimed that inclusion and accessibility has “fundamentally improved” at the University during his six-year tenure.
In an exclusive interview with
Palatinate ahead of his retirement this summer, Professor Corbridge reflected on his time as Vice-Chancellor, a position he took up in September 2015.
Professor Corbridge discussed a variety of topics, from the Covid-19 pandemic and strike action, to inclusion and accessibility and the future of the University.
Accessibility
Professor Corbridge’s tenure as Vice Chancellor has seen the University face criticism for racial and social inclusion. In October 2020, Durham was ranked the second worst university in the UK for social inclusion by
Professor Karen O’Brien has been appointed as Durham University’s new Vice-Chancellor and Warden, becoming Durham’s first ever female Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. O’Brien, who is currently Head of the Humanities Division and Professor in the Faculty of English at the University of Oxford, will take up her position on 4th January 2022, with current Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Corbridge set to retire on 31st July this year.
Current Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Professor Antony Long, will take up the position of interim Vice-Chancellor in between those dates.
In an email to all students and staff, Chair of Durham University Council Joe Docherty said O’Brien was appointed following “an extensive and competitive international recruitment process.”