News

University College student selected for the Paralympics

(5 July 2012)

University College student and rowing cox Lily van den Broecke has been selected to represent Team GB at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Lily’s selection comes only a couple of weeks after winning Gold at the Munich World Cup with her crew.

Lily, who is 20 years old and a first year student at Durham University, started rowing at secondary school. After four years of sculling, she tried out as a cox and found it suited her.

Lily, who is a member of University College, combines her sporting career with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, something she is able to do at Durham, which prides itself on academic excellence combined with opportunities in sport, the arts and volunteering.

Although Lily has been selected for the Paralympics, she is able-bodied. The rules do not preclude able-bodied athletes to compete as rowing coxes in the Paralympics.

She said: “I have coxed as part of the Junior GB squad as well as for the senior team. I feel that as an able-bodied cox working with the Paralympic Rowing Squad is one of the most humbling and incredible experiences that anyone without a disability could have, and we would of course love to win a medal at the games.”

Many congratualtions to Lily on this great achievement!