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UEL team triumph at London Triathlon

Monday 16 August 2010

UEL Triathlon team

Staff from various areas of the University of East London pushed their bodies to the limit last weekend to compete in the London Triathlon, held at Excel London as ‘Team UEL’.

Protein shakes, heart-rate monitors and after-work training sessions have become an increasingly common sight at the University of East London in recent weeks with a number of staff in training.

Weeks of training paid off for the five teams that competed in the Triathlon with three teams in the Olympic distance events and two competing in the sprint distance events. As well as competing on the day, competitors were also busy raising funds to support the new £18million sports and academic centre. Construction work is about to begin at the Docklands site and is due for completion late 2011, it will be open to staff and students and also local residents and clubs.

The centre will also be utilised by the United States Olympic Committee for athlete performance services and logistic operations in the lead up to the London Games in 2012.

Dr Fariba Salehi, UEL’s Head of Development and Alumni said: “I amdelighted at the level of commitment and enthusiasm that the team brought into taking part and succeeding at Triathlon in 2010. The team was energetic, upbeat and very impressive. The sun came out, and we had real fun.

We are going to make a tradition of this andlook forward to growing the team and raising more and more funds each year. This year the team raised about £2000. Taking part in sporting events such as the Triathlon is one of the best ways to raise funds for UEL development plans while enhancing team work and sporting spirit at UEL. Well to done to all involved!”

Professor Dave Watkinson, Field Leader in Professional Health Sciences at UEL’s Stratford campus said, “There was a really good team spirit amongst the competitors and it was great to see other UEL staff supporting us on the sidelines. We had a some very good times and I did a personal best in the cycle leg.

“We’re all really looking forward to doing it again next year and I would recommend it to anyone. You don’t have to be an elite athlete, but it givesa real sense of achievement and team work at the end of the day.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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