Cambridge University graduate Emma Pooley stormed to Olympic Silver in Beijing yesterday during the Cycling Time Trial.

Emma, who studied for her engineering degree while a student at Trinity Hall, rode one of the races of her life to finish just 24 seconds behind Gold-winning American Kristin Armstrong, who posted a winning time of 34 minutes 51.72 seconds.

The diminutive Pooley, who weighs less than 50kg and stands just over 5ft tall, was understandably thrilled with her achievement.

She said: “It's the most amazing day of my life. I've been working for this for the last eight years, especially the last four, and to time everything right on one day is an accomplishment of its own.”

Her lung-bursting efforts in the Cycling Time Trial were made all the more remarkable given the fact her bikes have to be specially manufactured due to her small stature.

But what she lacks in height, she clearly makes up for in sheer willpower and determination, as she powered her way around the hilly 23.5km course, taking in the Great Wall of China along the way.

She added: “It was pretty fun, I just kept saying, 'faster faster.' I raced as well as I could. I cannot affect what others do. There's no secret, you just have to make it hurt."

The podium appearance was rich reward for the former Cambridge student whose pace-making helped fellow Team GB cyclist Nicole Cooke to Road Race Gold earlier in the week.

Pooley only took up the sport several years ago. She was originally a runner and Captain of the Cambridge University triathlon team, but took up cycling to keep fit after an injury interrupted her running.

Meanwhile, the Cambridge University connections continued with Churchill College student Alex O’Connell’s gallant efforts in the Fencing Sabre event.

He bowed out of the competition, but only after an intense struggle against Nikolay Kovalev. In a thrilling contest, O’Connell pushed his Russian opponent all the way, eventually losing 15-14 after fighting back from 14-11 down.

O’Connell never expected to reach the Olympics and his success at the trials came as a surprise, even to himself.

He said: “If I’m honest, when I came out here, my goal was to learn as much as I could because for the last three summers, ever since they awarded London the Olympics, the aim has been to go to 2012.”

This weekend Trinity Hall engineering graduate Tom James (2007) lines up in the Coxless Fours. The Cambridge University Boat Club President last year, Tom and his crew will be going for gold in Saturday’s final, hoping to emulate the likes of former Coxless Fours legends Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent.

Staff and students of Trinity Hall were also cheering on 19-year-old Adam Brown, son of Wychfield senior porter Kim Brown, when he took part in the Men’s 4x 100m Freestyle Relay event earlier this week, Team GB finishing eighth overall.
 

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