The Australian Uniroos World University Games (29th Summer Universiade) campaign has come to a close following two weeks of brilliant competition across 16 sports.
The Games, held in Taipei, Taiwan, saw 184 Australian student athletes compete, with the University of Sydney represented in six sports (17 Sydney University students or club-affiliated athletes were part of the 2017 Australian Uniroos team. More on them here).
Alex Wilson (NSW Tafe), who won the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Championship with Brydens Sydney Uni Flames in March this year, was a part of the gold medal winning Emerging Opals team.
After a strong first three quarters, the Uniroos were able to hold off a tough Japanese outfit to claim an 85-78 victory. Wilson capped off an outstanding tournament with 17 points and 4 assists in the gold medal match.
Photo Credit: Australian Uniroos
The Emerging Boomers, featuring Sydney University Basketball Club alumnus Craig Moller (Deakin University) finished 9th, while the Australian Uniroos Women’s Water Polo team featuring Sydney University students Savannah Henshaw and Ashley Colaco, finished 6th.
In Athletics, the University and national team’s most heavily-represented discipline, athletes performed exceptionally well.
- Nicholas Hough finished 6th in the 110m Hurdles Final (13.73)
- Angus Armstrong finished 5th overall in the Pole Vault Final (5.30m)
- Nicola McDermott finished 7th overall in the Women’s High Jump Final (1.88m)
- Rohan Browning finished 28th overall in the 100m (10.60) and 12th overall in the 4x100m relay (with Nicholas Bate, Simon Greig and Taylor Burns)
- Jin Su Jung finished 36th overall in the 100m (10.67)
- Michelle Jenneke finished 8th in the 100m hurdles Final (14.82)
- Jess Stafford (with Bella O’Grady, Alicia Keir and Alex Bartholomew) finished 5th overall in the Women’s 4x400m Relay Final
- Paige Campbell finished 4th overall in the Women’s 3000m steeplechase Final (10:00.15)
- Elizabeth Clay finished 32nd overall in the Women’s 100m Hurdles (14.92)
More on the Uniroos Athletics results here.
Photo Credit: Australian Uniroos
In Table Tennis, Elite Athlete Program member Sarah Tan and and Elite Athlete Program alumnus Kane Townsend put on great performances across a number of events. See the full results breakdown here.
In the Men’s Weightlifting (62kg), Sydney University student Phillip Liao finished 10th overall with a total score of 209.
In the Individual All-Around Rhythmic Gynamistics event, Sydney University Elite Athlete Program alumna Enid Sung finished 23rd overall with a total of 47.925 points. She scored 12.475 in the hoop component, 11.350 in the ball component, 12.000 in the clubs component and 12.100 in the ribbon component.
Photo Credit: Australian Uniroos
The Australian Uniroos earned nine medals in total and finished the Games ranked 17th in the medal tally (out of 66 competing countries).
The Uniroos won four gold (The Emerging Opals, Women’s Basketball; Sian Whittaker, Women’s 100m Backstroke and Women’s 200m Backstroke; and Kyle Cranston, Men’s Decathlon), three silver (Alysha Burnett, Women’s Heptathlon; Emily Meaney and Brittany O’Brien, Women’s Synchronised 10m Platform – Diving; and Leiston Pickett, Women’s 50m Breaststroke) and two bronze (Taryn Gollshewsky, Women’s Discus and Bailey Lewis, Men’s Taekwondo -54kg).
Japan topped the medal tally with 37 gold medals, 27 silver and 37 bronze (101), followed by Korea, Chinese Taipei, Russia and the USA.
Congratuations to the entire Australian Uniroos team on an outstanding campaign.
