Law student to represent Great Britain at World University Championships

Third-year law student Sophie Signorelli is one of four 10m air rifle athletes representing Great Britain at the championships, which take place in New Taipei, Chinese Taipei, from 27 to 31 October.

Organised by the Chinese Taipei University Sports Federation (CTUSF), the event will bring together student-athletes from across the world to compete on the international university sport stage.

Sophie joined Solent’s Sports Excellence Programme last year and has since benefited from the tailored support available to high-performance athletes, helping her to balance the demands of her sport with her university studies.

Speaking ahead of the championships, Sophie said:

“I feel ecstatic to be able to represent Great Britain and Solent University, and I’m also really proud to represent the Sport Excellence Programme and show how far the programme can help you progress in such a short space of time.

“I’ve only been competing internationally for a year, so to have this opportunity is amazing. It’s really cool to be able to show people what you can achieve when you have the right support behind you.”

Kelly Simm, Athlete Support Officer at Southampton Solent University, said:

“We’re delighted to see Sophie’s selection for the World University Championships officially announced. This has been a goal of Sophie’s for some time, so to see her hard work and dedication lead to this opportunity is incredibly exciting.

“We’re proud to be part of her journey and can’t wait to see her represent Solent on the biggest stage of her career so far.”

Tom Doncom, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology and SEP’s sports psychologist has been working with Sophie ahead of the tournament, he added:

“When I first began working with Sophie it was clear that she had all the potential to go and compete on the world stage. Her dedication to enhance her performance psychologically has been rewarded and I cannot wait to see her compete.”

Solent’s Sports Excellence Programme supports high-performing student-athletes as they pursue their sporting ambitions alongside their academic studies, providing tailored support to help them succeed in both areas.

Iain Molyneux-Drury, Sport Education Partnerships Manager at Southampton Solent University, said:

“Having a Solent University student selected to compete at this level is a fantastic achievement and something we’re incredibly proud of.

“The Sport Excellence Programme has continued to grow and develop over the past few years, and it’s brilliant to see Sophie representing Solent on the international stage. Her selection highlights the importance of providing student-athletes with the support they need to pursue their sporting ambitions alongside their academic studies.”

The championships will begin with an opening ceremony in New Taipei on 26 October, before competition gets under way the following day.

Everyone at Southampton Solent University wishes Sophie the very best as she represents Great Britain and the University on the international stage.