London 2012 inspires Winchester - University of Winchester

VENTA / Issue 26 / Summer 2012
Sports Festival
The University of Winchester hosted
the Winchester Sports Festival in
May as part of the City’s countdown
to the London 2012 Olympics and
Paralympic Games.
The free event, organised by Winchester City
Council with the support from the University,
was held at Winchester Sports Stadium. People
of all ages were invited to take part in a wide
range of over 50 sports and fun activities.
There was also the chance to meet the
Olympic Mascots Wenlock and Mandeville, as
well as take part in a 300ft inflatable obstacle
course.
David Haller MBE – Swimming Coach
Dave Haller (Teaching, 1963 to 1966) is currently the coach of David Davies,
2012 Olympic competitor in the 1500m freestyle. Dave has coached David back
from a period where his performance was struggling and the swimmer had
considered retiring.
Dave himself swam for Great Britain in the
1964 Olympics in Tokyo and has coached
swimmers in every Olympic games since
1968. His dedication to coaching has seen
Dave awarded British Swimming Coaches
Association Lifetime Achievement Award for
40 years of swimming coaching, among many
other awards that he has to his name. Dave
has worked with many different swimmers
throughout his career and has dealt with
many different obstacles and successes along
the way. “Coping with success may be hard
– but it’s harder to cope with the lack of it,”
says Dave. “Not everyone is going to be a
champion and it’s important to understand it’s
a challenge. The failure is in not trying at all.”
Jonathan Gribbin – Paralympic Footballer
Former GB Paralympic Footballer
Jonathan Gribbin (Primary Education,
1996 to 2000) gave a talk at the
Centre for Sport at the University of
Winchester in May as part of the 12
for 12 project.
Jonathan became West Bromwich Albion’s top
scorer. In 2008 he competed in the Paralympic
Games, helping the GB Blind Football team to
finish 5th.
“The first time you walk out on the pitch
representing your nation is a phenomenal
experience and you never forget it,” said
Jonathan who holds an international record
of 26 caps and 21 goals. “Representing my
country is the best thing I’ve ever done in my
life bar getting married and having children.”
In 2010 he was the first England player to
score against Brazil in three years, as England
finished 4th at the Blind Football World Cup.
His performance led him to be voted the most
talented player in the world.
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