At the close of the Paris Olympics look back on five memorable moments for Leeds students and alumni at the Games.
For two weeks, Paris hosted the world’s finest athletes, national leaders, celebrities – and, of course, members of the global Leeds community.
From displays of athletic prowess honed on Leeds hills, to calm-headed leadership learnt in University societies, enjoy five moments from Paris to make the Leeds community proud:
1. Olympic bronze for Sam
Sam Dickinson swam, cycled and ran Great Britain into first place during his relay leg. Credit: World Triathlon
On his Olympic debut Great Britain triathlete Sam Dickinson (Sports Science and Physiology 2019) won bronze in the team relay event.
Two years ago, Sam told us he was aiming to make the team for Paris. To win a medal was a distant dream. “My dreams became reality this week,” Sam wrote on Instagram. “I hope we’ve managed to inspire the next generation of Olympic athletes just like 2012 inspired me.”
With the event divided into four legs, Sam took hold of the baton on leg three in second place, and pushed GB into first after a flying swim, bike and run performance. In the final leg, Sam’s teammate Beth Potter was pipped to the line in a sprint finish with her rivals from Germany and the USA.
Sam’s medal was even more deserved after his display of sacrifice and selflessness in the individual race, where he supported Leeds Beckett University alum and former housemate Alex Yee to individual gold. Sam dropped out during the run section of the race in order to save his legs for the relay.
2. Directing Tom Cruise at the closing ceremony
Director and Leeds alum Ben Winston (centre) worked with Tom Cruise to create the stunning handover montage of the Games during the closing ceremony. Credit: Terrence Patrick
Producer, director and Leeds alum Ben Winston (Broadcasting Studies 2004) co-ordinated a jaw-dropping stunt as part of the closing ceremony. Ben worked for over a year on the secret project to signal the handover of the Games to Los Angeles, which will host the Olympics in 2028.
Highlights included Tom Cruise abseiling off the Stade de France roof, before a pre-recorded film showed him travelling through Paris, then flying to the USA. A live beach performance in LA from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dog followed.
“I had the idea over 18 months ago,” Ben wrote on Instagram. “To see it all come together on that beach today was truly beautiful.”
3. Magnificent Max reaches the final
History student Max Burgin finished eighth in the men’s 800m race in Paris.
Max had endured “injury hell” in the build-up to Paris 2024, after a blood clot left him a mobility scooter. To qualify for the Games was a surprise – but Max wasn’t finished there.
He raced strongly through the heats, then finished a thrilling third in the semi-final to make the Olympic final – a result which left him speechless during his post-race interview.
In a hotly contested final, Max dared to dream and pushed hard to be involved early on, but eventually dropped back to eighth place.
4. Leading a nation through a breathtaking summer
Mark England has attended the past 12 Olympic Games (summer and winter) in a leadership role
Mark England (Economic History 1981) led Great Britain for the third Summer Olympics in a row as Chef de Mission – leader of the national delegation.
Under Mark’s guidance, Great Britain finished Paris 2024 with 65 medals, beating their total from Tokyo by one, matching their medal haul from London 2012, and scoring the joint-third highest for Team GB at a single Games behind Rio 2016 (67 medals) and London 1908 (146).
Mark oversees the selection process for the Games and does everything in his power to ensure team members perform to the best of their ability – a role he describes as “a privilege”.
5. A marathon masterclass
Phil Sesemann completed the Seville marathon in 2:08:04 to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024
Ahead of his Olympic debut marathon runner Phil Sesemann (Medicine 2017) described Paris as a race where he could “go in swinging” knowing he’d already achieved more than he hoped for. In a battling and inspiring performance Phil placed 46th in a time of 2.13.08 against the finest marathoners in the world. The hot hilly course was recognised as one of the toughest in Olympic history.
As Phil crossed the line at the Esplanade des Invalides, it was a long way from his days as a student in Leeds, where he would run from Hyde Park, up Otley Road to Headingley and back via Queenswood Drive.
Also shining in Paris
Ever since Alistair MBE (Sport Science and Physiology 2009, LLD 2013) and Jonny Brownlee MBE (History 2013, LLD 2013) emerged as stars of triathlon – and went on to win five Olympic medals between them – Leeds has had great success in the event.
In Paris, psychology student Kate Waugh finished an impressive 15th for Team GB on her Olympic debut. Tyler Smith (Sports Science and Physiology 2020) finished in 48th place for Bermuda in the men’s race.
Leeds-based athlete Beth Potter finished third in the women’s race, and Leeds Beckett alum Georgia Taylor-Brown finished sixth. Alongside Sam Dickinson and Alex Yee, they completed the bronze medal-winning team for the relay event.
Further information
For more information, contact Ed Newbould, Digital Communications Officer at the University of Leeds, by email on e.w.newbould@leeds.ac.uk.