Sheffield students celebrate success at sports championships

They won 11 gold, three silver and four bronze medals at the British Universities and Colleges Sports Championships in Sheffield, with eight of the gold medals going to the swimming team.

Max Litchfield, who hopes to compete in the Olympic Games in Rio this summer, retained his 400m freestyle title and won the 200m individual medley.

He also broke the championship record in the 400m individual medley and is now training for his Olympic trials in eight weeks’ time.

Max, from Pontefract, joined the Doncaster Dartes swimming team at the age of 10 before moving to the City of Sheffield Swim Squad when he was 18.

“It’s great to race for the university, it’s a different environment and a great opportunity for us as students,” said the 20-year-old sport and exercise science student.

“There’s no other city in the country that can rival Sheffield’s sporting pedigree so it was great to be in front of a home crowd.

“This weekend has definitely helped to build my confidence ahead of the trials. I got some good results and my mid-season training has been going well so I’m hoping to build on that.”

The Sheffield Hallam boxing team won three golds, a silver and a bronze while the climbing team won three golds.

Medals were also won in trampolining and the high jump.

Dan Porter, head of sport services for Sheffield Hallam, said: “We have seen an unbelievable showcase of university sport this weekend which has seen Sheffield Hallam win one of the biggest number of medals in a BUCS Championship.”