Overcoming hurdles: UEL alumna’s journey to the Olympics

That ambition brought her to UEL, where she studied Media and Communications. She was immediately struck by the University’s welcoming and supportive atmosphere. 

It was really nice to have a school that felt like they were super excited to have me there," she said.

Her time at UEL came after a difficult period in her athletics career. Mariam had spent several years dealing with injuries and debating whether she wanted to continue competing at the highest level. 

She describes her time in East London as a time of “rewiring” her mindset, rediscovering her passion and reconnecting with the reasons that had kept her on the track. 

“I was shooting for the Olympics, not because I had or felt like I needed to, but because I wanted to – and I knew that I could,” she said. 

That change in mindset helped push her towards Paris, where she learned that performing at the highest level required more than just physical training. 

UEL also played a practical role in supporting Mariam’s development, connecting her with Newham and Essex Beagles Athletics Club and former Olympian Tony Jarrett. 

“I could not have asked for a better coach,” she said, praising Jarrett’s positive energy and willingness to accommodate the demands of elite-level training. She describes the partnership as one of the most valuable parts of her time at UEL. 

However, balancing student life and training at an elite level had its challenges. Mariam admits that being constantly busy with training, assignments and maintaining a social life can be a lot to handle. 

For her, learning to prioritise was key. Some assignments required more attention than others, while some training sessions demanded more focus, meaning social plans sometimes had to take a back seat. 

That experience is what moulded the advice she now gives student athletes: communicate early, be realistic about what matters most and accept that attempting to do everything at 100% is unsustainable. 

For Mariam, communication is crucial to managing such competing demands. She encourages student athletes to be open with lecturers and coaches about the pressures they are facing, instead of trying to manage everything alone.

“People want to help. They want to be a part of the journey,” she said. 

Beyond organisation, Mariam believes athletes also need to be honest with themselves about what they actually desire; rather than allowing sport, study or outside expectations to define them. 

“You don’t have to be an athlete. You don’t have to go to the Olympics. You could still be someone that you love,” she said.