UQ awards 2012 sporting scholarships

The University of Queensland has announced winners of the 2012 sporting scholarships at a special lunch at Hillstone restaurant, St Lucia on Thursday 29 March.

The lunch introduced new scholarship holders to sponsors and UQ staff, highlighting the athlete’s achievements to date as well as degrees they will be undertaking at UQ.

Winners represented a broad cross-section of both sport and study.

Winners were from disciplines including Law, Science, Physiotherapy, Town Planning, Medicine and Arts.

They participated in sports such as artistic gymnastics, AFL, water polo, sailing, swimming, hockey and cricket.

The day also featured a special panel discussion which gave guests an insight into the life of an aspiring professional athlete trying to balance training and study.

Among the athletes present during the panel discussion was Paralympian Brenden Hall, who recently smashed his own 400m Multi-Class world record by more than two seconds at the Australian Swimming Titles in Adelaide.

Mr Hall said he was grateful UQ had provided him with the opportunity to complete his Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences along with a training base.

“It is really valuable having the pool at UQ," he said.

"It means that I don’t have to travel far to do my training.

“If I am in the middle of exams it really helps having everything in such close proximity.

“Training 36-40 hours a week and doing university can be a difficult task but somehow I manage to get it done.

“I have made it into the shadow squad for the 2012 London Paralympics, so things are going well but it will be even better once the team is confirmed in June.”

Mr Hall isn’t the only scholarship holder preparing for Olympic selection.

Physiotherapy student Caitlin Sargent is vying for a spot on the women’s athletics team in her pet event, the 400m.

Ms Sargent competed at last year’s IAAF World Athletics Championships and is hopeful of either qualifying individually or as part of the 4x400m relay team.

JP Crawford – UQ Sport PR & Communications Coordinator
Phone: (07) 3346 7518, email: jpc@uqsport.com.au