A COMMONWEALTH champion is now looking to secure success in the classroom after he enrolled at the University of Worcester.
Matthew Hudson-Smith was part of England’s 4x400m relay squad that won gold at the games in Glasgow this summer, before he claimed individual silver and another relay gold for Great Britain at the World Championships in Zurich.
And now the 19-year-old, who is tipped for even greater success in the future, is keen to make his mark academically by enrolling on the PE and Sports Coaching Science course at the Henwick Road site.
“Last year was all about athletics for me, but this year I thought I should go out and start studying for a degree,” he said.
“It’s not just the fact this degree is going to help me as an athlete, it is the fact I can also use it to help develop others too. I want to be a coach eventually and this is the first step towards that.
“The support network here is good, it caters to my needs and everything is tailored around the individual, which I like.
“I’m not sure how it’s going to work in terms of balancing my studies when the big competitions come along, but thankfully they’re very supportive here, so I know I will be helped out.”
After what he describes as a ‘crazy’ summer, the Wolverhampton-born athlete said both the location and facilities on offer at the University convinced him to come to the city.
“My main goals at the moment are obviously the World Championships next year and then the 2016 Olympics, but I take things one step at a time.
“I am happy to be here, and hopefully I can go on to achieve good things on the track and in terms of my studying.”
Mick Donovan, head of the university’s institute of sport and exercise science, added: “We have a very strong tradition for supporting students who strive to success as academics and as athletes and we have been delighted to welcome Matthew to the University.”
