29 July 2023

NSW preview and guide to the World University Games

On Tuesday in Chengdu China, the track and field competition gets under way at the World University Games with 13 NSW athletes competing across a busy six days of competition as members of the Australian team.

The perfect pathway competition gives emerging senior athletes a taste of a world class multi-sport competition. The Games have launched the careers of many of Australia greats who made their senior debut in the green and gold at these Games, including: Nicola Olyslagers (2015), Stewart McSweyn (2015), Nick Hough (2013), Mackenzie Little (2017), Steve Hooker (2003) and Matt Denny (2019).

We can expect many of the 2023 World University Games team, to be in the Paris Olympic team next year.

Competing at his second World University Games, UTS Norths athlete Alec Diamond had the great honour of carrying the Australian flag and leading the team at the opening ceremony. Alec won silver at the 2019 Games and was fifth at the Commonwealth Games last year after receiving a late call to join the team.

At the start of last summer, you would not have expected long jumper Alyssa Lowe and hurdler Emily Britton to have made this team, but they have made extraordinary progression and this team could become just be a stepping stone to Paris. Lowe started last season with a best long jump of 6.05m, dating back to 2019, but during the season Lowe, while aged 19, set five PBs – 6.06m, 6.20m, 6.26m, 6.38m and 6.45m. Her last mark earning her silver at the Nationals.

Emily Britton, 21, has made similar astonishing progress in the 100m hurdles. She started the summer with a best of 13.67, going on a rampage with four PBs – 13.49, 13.29, 13.18 and 13.09. She placed fourth at the Australian championships. She moved from number 42 on the Australian all-time list to number 12.

Other NSW athletes competing include Olympian Georgia Winkcup, Commonwealth Games Josh Azzopardi, World U20 Championships semi-finalists Luke Boyes, along with Chris Ius, William Fryer, Connor Murphy, Dylan Richardson, Holly Campbell, Imogen Breslin, Desleigh Owusu and Elizabeth McMillen.

Fact File World University Games – CHENGDU 2023

• XXXI edition of the Summer Universiade
• Dates competition 28 July to 8 August (Athletics August 1 to 6)
• 17 sports at the Games
• 83 in the Australian team, competing in 10 sports
• 33 in the Australian Athletics team, including 13 from NSW
• 26 Australian universities and TAFEs will be competing at the Games this year
• Watch a live stream https://www.fisu.tv/browse
• Conducted by FISU - International University Sports Federation
• A multi-sport championship.
• Conducted every two years.
• Athletes generally aged 18-25 years, undertaking a university and some TAFE courses
• Australia has won 25 titles, NSW have claimed six gold medals
  • Lachlan Renshaw - 800m, 2011
  • Jane Jamieson – heptathlon, 1995 & 2001
  • Dani Samuels/Stevens – discus, 2009
  • Eloise Wellings – 5000m, 2003
  • Kyle Cranston – Decathlon, 2017

NSW members of the Australian Athletics team at the 2023 FISU World University Games

Men:

100m: Joshua Azzopardi (ACPE)
200m: Christopher Ius (Sydney Uni)
800m: Luke Boyes (UTS)
Long Jump: William Freyer (Sydney Uni)
Triple Jump: Connor Murphy (Sydney Uni)
20km Walk: Dylan Richardson (Newcastle Uni)
Decathlon: Alec Diamond (Australian Catholic Uni)

Women:

5000m: Holly Campbell (Sydney Uni)
100m Hurdles: Imogen Breslin (Macquarie Uni), Emily Britton (Australian Catholic Uni)

Long Jump: Alyssa Lowe (Sydney Uni)
Triple Jump: Desleigh Owusu (Macquarie Uni)
20km Walk: Elizabeth McMillen (TAFE NSW)

Competition schedule for the NSW athletes

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Opening ceremony 2023 World University Games

On Tuesday in Chengdu China, the track and field competition gets under way at the World University Games with 13 NSW athletes competing across a busy six days of competition as members of the Australian team.

The perfect pathway competition gives emerging senior athletes a taste of a world class multi-sport competition. The Games have launched the careers of many of Australia greats who made their senior debut in the green and gold at these Games, including: Nicola Olyslagers (2015), Stewart McSweyn (2015), Nick Hough (2013), Mackenzie Little (2017), Steve Hooker (2003) and Matt Denny (2019).

We can expect many of the 2023 World University Games team, to be in the Paris Olympic team next year.

Competing at his second World University Games, UTS Norths athlete Alec Diamond had the great honour of carrying the Australian flag and leading the team at the opening ceremony. Alec won silver at the 2019 Games and was fifth at the Commonwealth Games last year after receiving a late call to join the team.

At the start of last summer, you would not have expected long jumper Alyssa Lowe and hurdler Emily Britton to have made this team, but they have made extraordinary progression and this team could become just be a stepping stone to Paris. Lowe started last season with a best long jump of 6.05m, dating back to 2019, but during the season Lowe, while aged 19, set five PBs – 6.06m, 6.20m, 6.26m, 6.38m and 6.45m. Her last mark earning her silver at the Nationals.

Emily Britton, 21, has made similar astonishing progress in the 100m hurdles. She started the summer with a best of 13.67, going on a rampage with four PBs – 13.49, 13.29, 13.18 and 13.09. She placed fourth at the Australian championships. She moved from number 42 on the Australian all-time list to number 12.

Other NSW athletes competing include Olympian Georgia Winkcup, Commonwealth Games Josh Azzopardi, World U20 Championships semi-finalists Luke Boyes, along with Chris Ius, William Fryer, Connor Murphy, Dylan Richardson, Holly Campbell, Imogen Breslin, Desleigh Owusu and Elizabeth McMillen.

Fact File World University Games – CHENGDU 2023

• XXXI edition of the Summer Universiade
• Dates competition 28 July to 8 August (Athletics August 1 to 6)
• 17 sports at the Games
• 83 in the Australian team, competing in 10 sports
• 33 in the Australian Athletics team, including 13 from NSW
• 26 Australian universities and TAFEs will be competing at the Games this year
• Watch a live stream https://www.fisu.tv/browse
• Conducted by FISU - International University Sports Federation
• A multi-sport championship.
• Conducted every two years.
• Athletes generally aged 18-25 years, undertaking a university and some TAFE courses
• Australia has won 25 titles, NSW have claimed six gold medals
  • Lachlan Renshaw - 800m, 2011
  • Jane Jamieson – heptathlon, 1995 & 2001
  • Dani Samuels/Stevens – discus, 2009
  • Eloise Wellings – 5000m, 2003
  • Kyle Cranston – Decathlon, 2017

NSW members of the Australian Athletics team at the 2023 FISU World University Games

Men:

100m: Joshua Azzopardi (ACPE)
200m: Christopher Ius (Sydney Uni)
800m: Luke Boyes (UTS)
Long Jump: William Freyer (Sydney Uni)
Triple Jump: Connor Murphy (Sydney Uni)
20km Walk: Dylan Richardson (Newcastle Uni)
Decathlon: Alec Diamond (Australian Catholic Uni)

Women:

5000m: Holly Campbell (Sydney Uni)
100m Hurdles: Imogen Breslin (Macquarie Uni), Emily Britton (Australian Catholic Uni)

Long Jump: Alyssa Lowe (Sydney Uni)
Triple Jump: Desleigh Owusu (Macquarie Uni)
20km Walk: Elizabeth McMillen (TAFE NSW)

Competition schedule for the NSW athletes