A golden summer for Birmingham

For 11 days in August, the eyes of the world were on our city for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

An estimated 2.4 billion people saw our University crest across the many Games venues and watched our campus host the hockey and squash tournaments as part of the biggest Games ever. The sight of Old Joe greeted more than 170,000 visitors to campus, while 3,500 competitors and officials stayed at the athletes’ village on the Vale.

The Games proved a roaring success for Birmingham, with praise from commentators across the globe and royal visits, while the University community celebrated 12 medals won by students and alumni.

Meet some of our medallists

Gold medal in the hockey: Hannah Martin (BSc Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Science, 2016)

Hannah played a crucial role in Team England's run to the gold medal, scoring the decider in the semi-final shootout against defending champions New Zealand.

She says: 'The experience of coming back to play on the Birmingham pitches was incredible, and staying at the Vale was definitely nostalgic! We do sporting events so well as a nation, and I felt very lucky to be a part of a home Games, and especially one in Birmingham.

'It was amazing to see how many alumni came to support us, and Phil Gooderham cheered us on – the former University hockey coach, who was instrumental to so many of our hockey careers. The atmosphere created down at the hockey pitches was insane, especially for the semi-final and final. I definitely think the home support gave us all that extra bit of energy.

'It was very special that there were six of us on the team with ties to the University. To become Commonwealth champions on the Bournbrook pitches is something I'll treasure forever.'

Silver medal in the Triathlon: Non Stanford (BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences, 2010)

Non enjoyed a fairy tale fortnight as the 33-year-old led Wales to the silver medal with the anchor leg in the mixed team relay. She went straight on to Munich and won the European Championships with a thrilling finish, and then confirmed her retirement from major competition.

Writing on Instagram after finishing sixth in the individual triathlon at the Commonwealth Games, she said: 'That was probably the most I've ever enjoyed a race. I smiled the whole way around.

'The support on course was next level and it was so special to race in the city where my triathlon journey began 15 years ago, as a student at the University of Birmingham. A true full circle moment! To win the silver as part of a team is the icing on the cake – the perfect ending to my career.'

Bronze medal in the Judo: Yasmin Javadian (Dentistry, fourth year)

Sports scholar Yasmin overcame a fracture in her spine at the start of 2022 to compete at the Games – all while studying full time at Edgbaston. The 21-year-old only discovered the full extent of her injury in March, having competed through the pain for two months. She explains: 'I had a race against time to get back to fitness for the Games, and struggled in the two weeks before the start.

'I think if I was fully fit I would have been a favourite to medal, but as it was I was just delighted to take part. Coventry is my hometown so there was plenty of support for me. Walking out for my first bout, I had a few tears in my eyes but managed to pull myself together.

'The semi-final was a long fight, but even though I lost out there I am really proud to have won the bronze.'

All action images copyright: Getty Images

Find all the medals throughout the autumn 2022 edition of Old Joe to enter our Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games competition.