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20 July 2022

King's most talented athletes to compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

Talented athletes from past & present to compete at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Athletes smiling while posing with united jack flag
Right hand side: Dina Asher-Smith & Imani-Lara Lansiquot in Berlin

King’s most talented athletes will compete upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this month.

Britain’s fastest woman and King’s History alumna (History, 2017) has been nominated for the women’s 100m, and the 4x100m relay. Dina was named Alumna of the Year 2021 at the King’s Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Right hand side:  Dina Asher-Smith & Imani-Lara Lansiquot at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Right hand side: Dina Asher-Smith & Imani-Lara Lansiquot at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Fellow Olympian & King’s alumna Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Psychology, 2020) will be joining Asher-Smith in both races.

Laviai Nielsen competing in relay
Laviai Nielsen competing in relay

Geography alumna Laviai Nielsen (Geography, 2018) qualified for the 4x400 relay, where she’ll be joined by twin sister Lina Nielsen.

Bryan Leong competing at 2022 Varsity
Bryan Leong competing at 2022 Varsity

Current Neuroscience and Psychology BSc Student & Performance Athlete Bryan Leong will be representing Malaysia in 50m, 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle.

During their time at King’s each athlete received support from the King’s Sport Performance programme.

The King’s Sport Performance Programme provides elite student-athletes with a support network to help them perform to the highest level possible in their dual-career.

The King's Performance Athlete Programme is great. It provides invaluable support, whether that's financially, giving you access to performance facilities, or just helping and being someone to talk to. Many universities would benefit from having a programme like we do at King's.

Dina Asher-Smith

Through strength & conditioning, nutrition, physiotherapy, lifestyle and holistic wellness support we aim to offer students a world-class environment to improve athletically alongside their world-class education.

We strive to empower all our athletes to be the authors of their own stories, express themselves and share their triumphs with the wider university community.

The King’s Sport Performance Programme is one of the main reasons I came to King’s. When you’re juggling a commitment as huge as a sport, it’s so valuable to know that the university can be flexible around that. My athletics career has excelled so much since I started university, and having that support there has really contributed to that. As a gold-level athlete, the financial help I can access is also great for helping out with all the expenses, especially in my Olympic year.

Imani-Lara Lansiquot

Kings College London is leading the way with supporting talented athletes in education in England, having been one of the first institutions to gain TASS dual-career accreditation.

To support British elite, King’s Sport has also strengthened its partnership with the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), becoming one of its delivery sites.

As an accredited TASS Delivery Site (TDS) for athletes, this element of the partnership is not just available to King’s students, but for any athlete in and around London wishing to use the training and support facilities offered by King’s Sport.

Being one of 34 education institutions with TASS TDS status, King’s Sport is part of a national network which not only benefits elite athletes but also King’s Sport staff who have access to development opportunities in their particular practitioner area of expertise.

King’s Sport supported TASS athletes Joaquin and Javier Bello will also be competing at the Commonwealth Games in the Beach Volleyball event.

We wish the best of luck to all of our athletes during their journey at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Applications for the 22/23 Performance Athlete programme will open from 28 July 2022.

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Laura 1000x1000

Performance & Workforce Manager