{"id":4513,"date":"2021-12-22T09:56:46","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T09:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/life\/?p=4513"},"modified":"2021-12-22T14:56:38","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T14:56:38","slug":"top-sports-stories-from-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/life\/loughborough\/top-sports-stories-from-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Sports Stories from 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the arrival of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, we knew that 2021 would be an amazing year for Loughborough University. Here are some of the defining moments of our fantastic year!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loughborough Lightning crowned 2021 VNSL champions<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Loughborough Lightning made history by claiming their first ever Vitality Netball Superleague title with a triumphant 49 – 32 victory over Team Bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the sixteen years of the franchise\u2019s existence, Lightning had made it to three grand finals prior to 2021 but never managed to cross the line, and after a confident twenty goal win in their semi-final the previous day, Lightning were looking to rewrite history and claim their first title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(Photo by Morgan Harlow)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Loughborough Sport partner with Sporting Minds UK<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In recognition of Mental health Awareness Week (10 May \u2013 16 May), Loughborough Sport further strengthened its mental health support to its student-athletes through a new partnership with Sporting Minds UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sporting Minds UK is a registered charity that seeks to raise awareness and provide support for positive mental health in sportspeople aged 16 to 30 where they can access free, fast and confidential private mental health support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iQt4vZKYOME&ab_channel=LoughboroughSport\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cycling Festival a huge success as riders turn on the style<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(first major sporting event on campus \u2018post-covid\u2019)<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The inaugural Loughborough Cycling Festival proved to be a great success with some of the UK’s best cyclists descending on campus for a full day of elite-level competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Held in glorious bank holiday sunshine, riders competed on the fast, technical criterium circuit, which included steep hill climbs and numerous 90 degree turns that tested athletes both physically and \ntechnically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Elite Men\u2019s Criterium was won by Toby Barnes (Crimson Orientation Marketing Race Team, and current Loughborough Cycling Academy rider).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Loughborough University launches new Lightning wheelchair basketball team<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Loughborough University was selected as a High-Performance Partner for British Wheelchair Basketball in a move that would also see the formation of a brand-new Lightning team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loughborough\u2019s unique combination of outstanding sports facilities, world-leading performance support and Para sport infrastructure led to it being the home of British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB) and a BWB centre of excellence for wheelchair basketball teams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This announcement marked the launch of British Wheelchair Basketball\u2019s inaugural Women\u2019s Premier League \u2013 the very first professional para-sport league in the UK in which the new Lightning side would compete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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