As the 2025 FISU World University Games Summer unfolds across Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr region, GB Students have reached a historic landmark: 300 total medals at the Summer editions of these Games since their inception in 1959. This achievement underscores over six decades of excellence, growth, and impact in university sport.
GB Students have been a consistent force at summer games and this was recognised by FISU president, Leonz Eder as part of BUCS’ Legacy 65 document where he said “It is not just for its part in the history of university sport, however, that FISU is proud to count British Universities & Colleges Sport as a member."
"University sport has much to offer the students and the athletes of today and tomorrow. Whether healthy lifestyles for all or the promise of a career after sport, the symbiosis between university life and the expression of athleticism is as important and as relevant now as ever. We are grateful to British Universities & Colleges Sport for their continued leadership in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and wider contributions."
Coming into the games the GB Students tally stood at 295 medals stretching back to the very first FISU World University Games Summer in Turin 1959 where GB Students picked up ten medals in both the pool and on the track. GB Students most successful summer games were in Tokyo 1967 where the team collected 24 medals with medals coming on track, in the pool, on the court, mat and ring. Another highlight in our 300 medal history was a home games back in 1991. Sheffield played host to the 16th edition of the games and GB Students didn’t disappoint adding a further 14 medals that year.
In the 66 year span of the games, there have been many notable names that have come through and represented GB Students many of which have gone onto to represent their country at a senior level be that the Olympics or other world competitions. Some highlights through the years include:
Dame Jessica Ennis Hill | Izmir 2005 - In 2005 she picked up a bronze medal in Izmir in the women’s heptathlon event, Jessica has since gone on to win 9 gold medals, 4 silvers and 2 bronze’s representing Great Britain. Her personally medal tally includes and Olympic gold medal and 3 world championship golds. As part of Legacy65 she commented “The World University Games was a huge starting point for me in my career, I have lots of fond memories. University sport is fantastic for so many people on so many levels; it gave me so much.”
Beth Tweddle | Belgrade 2009 and Izmir 2005 - In 2009 Beth Tweddle won two gold medals in Gymnastics on both the floor and uneven bars and in 2005 won one gold and two bronze medals in the uneven bars, balance beam and all-around. Since her last games Beth went on to win 11 further gold medals, 8 silvers and 4 bronzes including 3 world championship golds and an Olympic bronze at London 2012.
Women’s Football | Kazan 2013 - In 2013 a star studded women’s football team headed to Kazan and went on the run of their lifes to enevatably collect the gold medal. The team included stars like Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Demi Stokes just to name a few. All these players went on to win many more accolades in their careers including the 2022 Women’s Euro’s with England.
Joe Salisbury | Guangzhou 2015 - As part of a men’s tennis doubles team Joe represented GB Students in Guangzhou and took home a gold medal from the games. Joe has since gone on to win many notable grand slams in men’s doubles including the Australian Open and the US Open three times and has ranked as high as number one in the world in men’s doubles.
It’s safe to say we’ve had quite the history as GB Students with names and medals wherever you look across the sporting landscape both past and present. Looking at current times and the five medals we needed in Rhine-Ruhr 2025 to get us across the 300 mark we’ve had Matthew Howell take bronze in Taekwondo, Wheelchair Basketball 3x3 claim a silver medal (our first ever para medal), David Mullarkey with a silver in the 10k, Jamie Connel with a bronze in the men’s tennis singles and the magic number 300 going to Sam Charig who earned bronze in the men’s 1500m.
Alongside our amazing athletes we’ve had unreal support staff to accompany them including current Chef De Mission of the GB Students delegation, Stew Fowlie. Since 2019 in Napoli Stew has overseen 15 medals and counting and had this to say on GB Students achievement “It is humbling and inspirational to think of our student athletes and staff representing GB with distinction over more than six decades.”
“Today we value highly the opportunity to take part, the life enhancing experiences available, and the incredible connection with our international peers.”
“Nevertheless everyone loves a medal in to the bargain and the triple century is an amazing milestone to reach. This milestone is a great testament to the lasting quality and commitment within University sport in the UK.”
“Under BUCS’ leadership we look forward to even greater success in the future. Here’s to the next 300 medals and all the incredible experiences that will be banked along the way.”
BUCS Deputy CEO and Director of Sport Sam Bell-Minogue added “It is amazing to reach the 300 medal mark, a true testament to the dedication, commitment, and drive of all the student athletes that have represented GB students at World University Games Summer over previous years.”
“This of course couldn’t have been achieved without the support of the coaches and wider support staff, the NGB’s and universities that all play a part in enabling such excellent opportunities and experiences for the student athletes. I look forward to hearing all about this Summers games on the delegations return. Congratulations to everyone!”
In summary GB Students hitting 300 Summer FISU medals is more than a milestone it’s proof that university sport builds champions and character and sets student athletes up for their future endeavours. We’d like to thank everyone that’s been involved in the GB landscape over the past 66 years from athletes to NGB’s to support staff to thier universites and beyond you are all a part of our history and part of the set up that’s help us reach this milestone, we simply couldn’t do it without you all.
Here’s to the next 300 medals and to the future of GB Students sport.
If you’d like to read more about GB Students history across the summer and winter games please see our Legacy 65 document which celebrated the first 65 years of international FISU games sport that GB Students have competed in.
