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Sports Awards 2022 - Sports Person of the Year Shortlist 2022

This award recognises the highest achieving student-athlete at the University of Cambridge, taking into account sporting performance over the past year. Cambridge has a number of student-athletes competing nationally and internationally, including UCAPP and TASS athletes, and this shortlist of five top performers show the breadth of sporting achievement and talent at Cambridge, not to mention their achievements delicately balancing sporting pursuits with academic success. 

Got your tickets for the big event yet? Reserve them for free, and join us to see who is crowned Sports Person of the Year at the Sports Awards Ceremony on Monday 20th June.

Here's more about each of our fantastic nominees: 

 

Alex Moen (Magdalene) - Hockey, Cricket, Rackets 

Hockey, Cricket and Rackets Captain and Blue Alex has been a dedicated sportsman during his time at Cambridge. In addition to being Vice-President of the Hawks’ Club, Alex has dedicated several years to various committee roles with CUCC and CUHC while playing at a high level for hockey and cricket.  

Alex has been Club Captain with CUHC while playing with the Men’s Blues this season, leading the team to a strong finish in the BUCS Premier South division.  

“Alex is widely respected and liked across CUHC, both for his talent on the pitch, and for everything he gives to the club off it.” 

“Alex’s commitment is made even more impressive considering his busy schedule, commuting to Holcombe [for National League Hockey] for training twice a week, and travelling across the country on Sundays for their games, whilst also training with CUHC once a week and joining us on our BUCS adventures. Couple this with his umpiring on Saturdays and occasional coaching of the third team; as well as his distinguished cricketing career there can be no doubt that he is a truly high performing all-rounder who is certainly worthy of the award.” 

Alex somehow juggles his time as Men’s Captain of the CU Cricket Club, where he has been the top batsman in the Cambridge UCCE team which retained their place in the BUCS National League.  

Squeezing in a little extra sporting success, Alex also helped Cambridge to Rackets Varsity victory in 2022.  

 

Emily Arbuthnott (Wolfson) - Lawn Tennis, Real Tennis, Mixed Lacrosse 

During 2021-22, TASS athlete Emily has been the number one ranked player for Women’s Tennis Blues, part of the team to win BUCS Premier South division. Not only that, Emily went undefeated in BUCS league play in singles and doubles, winning all matches in straight sets. 

Emily also achieved BUCS individual silver medals in singles and doubles, on both occasions losing out to a former WTA top 150 singles and top 100 doubles player, while also securing a Blue and Varsity Victory in Real Tennis.  

Not content with dominating the Cambridge tennis scene, Emily transferred her considerable talent across to the lacrosse pitch, where she played regularly for the Women’s Lacrosse 2nd team and the Mixed Lacrosse 1st team. With Mixed Lacrosse, Emily was awarded player of the match and scored five goals in the National Final which Cambridge won.  

“Despite playing to a high level in 3 different university sports teams, Emily has been consistently committed to CULTC training and matches - she has competed in more BUCS matches and attended more training sessions than any of our other players. She has played to an international level before matriculating at Cambridge in 2021 and continues to perform to a consistently high level on the court.” 

“While CUMLC are sad that she has only joined us for one year, having such a successful sports person in our team has had a huge impact on many of our players, raising the standard of lacrosse throughout the university and we thoroughly believe she should be recognised for all she has done this year.” 

Emily (left) with Doubles partner Georgie Walker.

 

Imogen Grant (Trinity) - Rowing  

Since learning to row at Cambridge back in 2014, it’s fair to say Imogen has come on as a rower. By her own admission she attended the rowing taster for the free food and drink, but it led to a rapid journey through the ranks of CUBC, into the GB Rowing team to World Cup gold, and to a 4th place at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. 

“It has been a busy year for Imogen, juggling her medical degree, the Boat Race and continuing to trial for GB, but she has done it with grace. We are very lucky to have had her expertise in the boat, and as the only member to have raced in the Blue Boat on the Tideway she provided us with vital knowledge into this unique race.  

At the beginning of April this year, Imogen stroked the 2022 Blue Boat to Cambridge’s fifth consecutive win and a course record (knocking 10 seconds off Imogen’s own previous course record). Following the Boat Race Imogen entered no less than 6 events over the 3 day BUCS regatta totally 23km of flat out racing, coming away with 3 golds, a silver and 2 bronze medals in a mixture of lightweight and openweight events. 

It was amazing to cheer on Imogen at the Olympics knowing she had learnt to row in college and risen through the CUBC ranks.” 

 

Louise Shanahan (Trinity) - Hare & Hounds, Athletic 

UCAPP athlete and Physics PhD student Louise recently made her Diamond League debut, racing against some of the world’s top athletes, in what has been an outstanding year. Louise was selected for the Ireland Olympic team to race in the 800m at Tokyo 2021, and has since improved on her personal best to clock an amazing 1:59.42, setting the Irish national record in the process 

With Cambridge, Louise retained her gold in 800m at the BUCS Indoor Athletic Championships in February 2022, before trying her luck at the 1500m at BUCS Outdoor Athletic Championships and finishing with a silver medal – a stunning result with this not being her usual race distance.  

“Louise has developed as an athlete year on year since starting at Cambridge.  Winning multiple BUCS medals, competing in the Diamond league, qualifying and running at the Olympic games in Tokyo and recently breaking the Irish national record for 800m illustrate her immense ability. She has made excellent use of all the support services available to her as she understands the importance of working with a multi-disciplinary team to maximise her talents.  Louise is a great example of how a student athlete can succeed through careful planning (she's great on an excel spreadsheet) and dedication to towards her goals. She is a fantastic example to other UCAPP athletes.” 

 

Lucy Xu (Pembroke) - Taekwondo 

A relative newcomer to the sport of taekwondo, having only taken it up four years ago, Lucy has had a hugely successful year with CUTKD. Lucy is one of few Cambridge students to qualify for this summer’s European University Games, and the first ever in Taekwondo. Not only that, but she will be competing in freestyle artistic (poomsae) and combat taekwondo.  

While balancing her medical degree, Lucy also gives up her time to coach beginners within the club to share her knowledge and support their success.  

“Lucy has managed to bag five BUCS series gold medals in team, single, and freestyle artistic (poomsae) taekwondo, and also claimed two bronze medals at the last two BUCS events in combat taekwondo. An inspiration!” 

This feat makes Lucy one of the most successful individual performers for Cambridge in BUCS competitions this season.