The University of Western Australia will have three students and five graduates representing Australia and one student representing Malaysia at this month's Olympic Games in London.

Sports science student Janine Murray, 22 (rhythmic gymnastics) of Claremont, engineering/commerce student Fergus Kavanagh, 27 (hockey) of Nedlands, Elise Rechichi, 26, (sailing) of Mt Hawthorn and graduates Ric Charlesworth (coach, men's hockey) of Nedlands, Kobie McGurk, 26 (hockey) of Willetton and Teneal Attard, 27 (hockey) of Rivervale, Jamie Beadsworth, 27 (water polo) of Nedlands and Adam Commens (coach, women's hockey) of Subiaco.

Final-year Law/Commerce student Heidi Gan, 23, of Dianella, will represent Malaysia in the open water swimming event.  For more details, visit UWA's Olympians.

In addition, seven UWA students will be representing Australia in international rowing competitions over the next few months.  They are engineering/commerce student Timothy Widdicombe, 22, of Karrinyup, science students Thomas Meares, 19, of Dalkeith and Perry Ward, 25, of Claremont, law/science student Maia Simmonds, 26, of Floreat, sports science student Hannah Jansen, 20, of Henley Brook and arts student Thea Adamson, 19, of Henley Brook.

Thea, Hannah, Timothy and Thomas were selected in Australia's under-23 squad to compete in the Henley Royal Regatta this week and the Under-23 World Rowing Championships in Lithuania this month.

Thea and Hannah are also part of a quad team with Maia that will compete in the Senior A Non-Olympic World Rowing Championships in Bulgaria in August.  Perry will row in the Senior A Men's Lightweight Eight at the same event.

"These young people deserve the sincere congratulations of not just their University, but of the nation," UWA Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Bill Louden said.

"Whether they win gold medals or not, their achievement is great.  They clearly demonstrate that the university experience is much more than just a training ground for employment.

"We want our students to be engaged with the University not only in the classroom but also in cultural, social and sporting activities."

Media references

Aaron Mitcham (UWA Sports)  (+61 8)  6488 4310
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716