The European Universities Games hosted 4,459 athletes, representing 422 universities, from across 38 countries, in 20 different sporting disciplines, taking place at 14 venues across the city of Lodz, in Poland.
The United Kingdom delegation, on behalf of BUCS, became the most successful delegation in our history winning 34 medals. Consisting of 12 gold, six silver and 16 bronze, the medal tally surpasses the 23 medals won in 2018. 18 British universities won a medal at the Games, which is the most in the history of the competition for any British delegation.
With 51 BUCS universities represented at the Games, the most ever sent to the European Universities Games, it was the University of Nottingham who won the most medals, finishing joint seventh in the overall medal table with a total of nine medals, including four golds. Four of Nottingham’s medals came in badminton, where they secured an impressive three golds and one silver.
The delegation's most successful sport of the Games was taekwondo, with nine UK universities contributing to the medal tally. Our athletes won three golds and eight bronze medals, with top honours going to Simone Abley (Northumbria University), Elisha Shaw (University of Glasgow) and Matthew Howell (University of Nottingham). Kickboxing provided further success from combat sports, winning five medals.
For the first time, British para-athletes competed as part of the Games, with further history made as all three para table tennis athletes, Shae Thakker (University of Sheffield), Ryan Henry (University of the West of Scotland) and Joseph Crouse (Imperial College London) medalled at the EUSA Games.
Jim Pope (Sheffield Hallam University) and Kieran Forrest (Sheffield Hallam University) dominated climbing, achieving gold and silver respectively in the lead climbing and bouldering events. Elias Bignold (Sheffield Hallam University) and Hannah Smith (University of Edinburgh) also won bronze and silver in the bouldering event. Jim Pope took overall gold, with Sheffield Hallam University earning overall team silver.
International Performance Manager, Marc Forrest said, “The significant achievements are testament to the quality and engagement of our athletes, coaches, officials, team leaders and member institutions, both at the Games and throughout the entire BUCS season. It is important we endeavour to provide student athletes the opportunity to compete on an international stage and enrich their overall student experience. The success is to be celebrated as we look to build on the achievements in the 2023 European University Championships and the next European Universities Games, in 2024.”
The next European Universities Games will take place between 12-24 July 2024, in the Hungarian cities of Debrecen and Miskolc.
