Ultimate Frisbee star’s world champion bid
A student who receives a sports bursary from the University almost became a world champion in Ultimate Frisbee this month.
Callum Smith (number 33) with his Great Britain teammates
Callum Smith, a mathematics student, lined up for Great Britain against USA in the final of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) 2012 World Ultimate Championships in Osaka, Japan on 14 July.
Friend and teammate in Sussex’s Ultimate team (Mohawks), Richard Roberts described Callum’s achievement as “monumental”. He said: “His bursary has been used well and I am so delighted for the guy. He's trained immensely hard this year.”
Callum and his teammates beat Australia, Austria, Columbia, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Sweden to reach the final of the contest, which saw 22 countries competing to be crowned champions. Unfortunately, the USA beat Great Britain in the final.
Callum also competed for Great Britain at the 2011 Ultimate Frisbee World Beach Championships and represented the Brighton Ultimate club at the European Club Championships.
He was joined in the Great Britain team by former Sussex student and bursary recipient, Richard Harris.
The sports bursaries are offered annually to Sussex sports men and women of an international or national standard and are supported by former students through the Sussex Fund, managed by the Development and Alumni Relations Office.
The support package – provided by the University’s sports service (Sussexsport) and the Students’ Union – includes free use of the University’s sports facilities; fitness testing and programming; regular monitoring sessions; physiotherapy/sports massage; a parking permit; a financial package; and some academic flexibility.