15 May 2014

Olympic and Paralympic medallists Jason Gardener and Ben Rushgrove (coach: Rob Ellchuk) this week became the first inductees to the University of Bath’s new Hall of Fame for Sport. 

Gardener won Olympic gold in the 4x100m relay in Athens in 2004, and now sits on the British Athletics board. Meanwhile Rushgrove won back-to-back Paralympic medals in the T36 category for athletes with cerebral palsy; silver over 100m in Beijing and bronze over 200m in London.

The Hall of Fame aims to recognise the athletes and coaches who have excelled in their sport and made a significant contribution to the sporting environment at the University.

Housed in the entrance of the Sports Training Village, a world-leading sports facility that has been a training base for some of Britain’s top athletes over the last two decades, it will be seen daily by the likes of Dai Greene (Malcolm Arnold) and Eilidh Child (Arnold), with Bath the training base of some of the country’s finest hurdlers including

Jason Gardener MBE, who was awarded his MBE in 2005 for services to athletics, commented:

“I’m delighted to be joining the Hall of Fame. I feel extremely proud that my time and achievements training at the University of Bath have been recognised in this very special way.

“To achieve success at the very highest level in sport requires an excellent, committed support team and environment.  I am extremely grateful to every person at the University who played a part directly or indirectly contributing to my success, enabling me to prepare and be the best that I could be,” he said. “Without the University’s support, achieving my childhood dream of becoming an Olympic Champion certainly would have been harder to achieve.”

Ben Rushgrove, who has three world medals to his name, added:

“When I started on this journey I had no idea I would end up in a Hall of Fame. It’s a privilege to have represented my country and I hope the Hall of Fame will inspire others to one day get their picture on it.”

The official ceremony took place on Monday with Bath born duo Gardener and Rushgrove inducted to the Hall of Fame by Professor Kevin Edge, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath.

Edge said at the ceremony:

“I’d like to congratulate Jason and Ben on becoming the first two athletes to be inducted to the University’s Hall of Fame for Sport.

“It’s fitting that such inspirational athletes who were both born in Bath should be the first to be inducted to the Hall of Fame. As well as achieving success at the very highest level of sport, they have been outstanding ambassadors, both for the University of Bath and the City of Bath.”