University alumni strike Commonwealth Games gold

Three University Sport and Exercise Science alumni have struck Commonwealth Games gold and bronze, reinforcing the University's reputation for developing world-class sporting talent.

Judoka Acelya Toprak and Kelly Petersen-Pollard claimed gold medals for England in Glasgow, while fellow graduate and Olympian Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown secured bronze. All three athletes studied Sport and Exercise Science at the University and have gone on to achieve success at the highest levels of international competition.

Representing England, Acelya Toprak claimed gold in the under-57kg category, while fellow graduate Kelly Petersen-Pollard took gold in the under-70kg division. Katie Yeats-Brown secured a bronze medal in the under-63kg category. All three athletes graduated from the University's Sport and Exercise Science programme.

The University's presence at the Games extended beyond its alumni community, with University of Wolverhampton Sport Scholar and Midwifery student Shelley Ludford also representing England in judo. Shelley achieved an impressive fifth-place finish in the women's under-78kg category and was due to graduate this summer.

The success of the University's alumni and current student athletes highlights the impact University of Wolverhampton students and graduates continue to make in elite sport, both nationally and internationally.

Ross Cloak, Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Wolverhampton, said:

“To see three of our graduates reach the podium at a major international sporting event is an incredible achievement and reflects the quality, dedication and resilience they have demonstrated throughout their careers.

"Acelya, Kelly and Katie are all outstanding ambassadors for the University of Wolverhampton and for the sport of judo. Their success on the Commonwealth stage is inspirational for our current students and demonstrates what can be achieved through talent, hard work and commitment.

"We are also incredibly proud of Shelley Ludford's achievement in representing England while balancing her studies as a Sport Scholar. Finishing fifth at a major international competition is a fantastic accomplishment and further demonstrates the calibre of athletes developing at the University.

"As a University, we are immensely proud to have been part of their journeys, and we congratulate them all on their outstanding performances for England.”

The University of Wolverhampton has a strong track record of supporting elite athletes and helping students balance academic achievement with sporting excellence. Success stories such as these demonstrate the opportunities available to students pursuing careers in sport, health and performance disciplines.

Photo caption: Kelly Petersen-Pollard secures gold at this years’ Commonwealth Games