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Teesside University student wins national sporting title

16 July 2021

 

A world champion boxer who studied at Teesside University has been named as the British student sportswoman of the year.

Savannah Marshall has completed BSc (Hons) Applied Sport and Exercise
Savannah Marshall has completed BSc (Hons) Applied Sport and Exercise

Savannah Marshall, who has just completed a BSc (Hons) Applied Sport and Exercise, picked up the title of Sportswoman of the Year in the 2021 British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Awards.

Savannah is the reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) female middleweight champion and her latest plaudit was announced by Olympic gold medallist and 2016 BUCS Sportswoman of the Year, Team GB hockey player Lily Owsley in an online ceremony.

Other finalists in the BUCS Sportswoman of the Year Awards were Durham University and Team GB hockey player Fiona Crackles, Bryony Pitman, a champion archer at Brunel University and Cassie Wild, a Team GB swimmer from the University of Stirling

Lily said: “The judges were absolutely blown away with this nomination and Savannah’s achievements this year, holding the World Boxing Organisation female middleweight since October 2020, and retaining it in 2021 whilst studying the whole time for her sports science degree.

“Congratulations Savanah, it’s an incredible achievement.”

Savannah beat Hannah Rankin to retain the WBO world title and is now looking towards a fight with American world title boxer Claressa Shields in what has been termed ‘the biggest fight in female boxing history’ if it were to happen.

Savannah said: "I was absolutely thrilled to hear I have been named the Sportswoman of the Year in the British Universities and Colleges Sport Awards. I can't believe it really.

To have been singled out among a really talented group of nominations makes me so proud and I am hugely grateful to everything Teesside University has done for me too.

Savannah Marshall

"To have been singled out among a really talented group of nominations makes me so proud and I am hugely grateful to everything Teesside University has done for me too.

“Combining study with my boxing career was, at times, a welcome break and something to enjoy other than training. For this to happen has made it even more worthwhile.

“The support I received from Teesside University during my degree was brilliant and what I have learned has made me stronger not only as an individual but as a boxer too."

Dr Matthew Wright, lecturer in Biomechanics and Strength Conditioning at Teesside University’s School of Health & Life Sciences, said: “It is fantastic to see Savannah win this award.

“It is testament to the hard work and dedication she has put both into her studies and her sporting career and we are delighted to have been able to support Savannah in her endeavours.”

For more information on sports and exercise qualification at Teesside University visit www.tees.ac.uk/shls

Visit www.tees.ac.uk/sport for more information on the Performance Scholarship Scheme.


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Coe hails response of university sport to COVID-19 pandemic at BUCS Awards
insidethegames.biz, Web, 18/07/2021
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe hailed the "inspiring" efforts of the university sport community during the COVID-19 crisis at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Awards. 

 
 
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