Student wins bronze medal at World Aquatics Championships on her graduation day

Media Relations Team, 28 July 2025

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Two swimmers holding up their bronze medals and smiling after competing in a swimming event, with a blue background — Izzy Thorpe (right) with her swimming partner Ranjuo Tomblin at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore

UWE Bristol sports rehabilitation student Izzy Thorpe made waves at the World Aquatics Championships winning a bronze medal in artistic swimming on the same day she was meant to be crossing the stage at her university graduation ceremony.

The 24-year-old from Westbury on Trym picked up the medal in the free mixed duet category at the international competition in Singapore, while her UWE Bristol graduation ceremony took place almost 7,000 miles away at the Bristol Beacon on Friday (25 July).

This was the sixth senior World Championships that Izzy has attended and the first time she competed in the free mixed duet. It follows her historic win at the Paris Olympics last year where she secured GB’s first-ever Olympic medal in the sport alongside her competing partner Kate Shortman, winning a silver medal.

Izzy, who was competing with her swimming partner Ranjuo Tomblin at the championships, said: “I’m honoured to have been selected to represent my country on the world stage again and particularly in the same year as completing my degree.

“I am very happy to have come away from this world championships with a bronze medal particularly after coming fourth two days before in the technical event! I’ve really enjoyed this season training and competing with Ranjuo, it has been different to last season particularly as I have been able to complete my final year of uni whilst still training up for world championships.”

Izzy has balanced studies for her sports rehabilitation degree with her training and reflected on her time at UWE Bristol saying: “My time at UWE has been very enjoyable, and challenging at times with the commitment to both swimming and studying. I’ve received great support from my lecturers, particularly during competition times or periods of intense training. They were always very understanding and helped me where they could.

“I’ve learnt a lot studying at UWE not only with my degree but in other aspects of life as well. One of the main things for me is I’ve learnt how important a good balance is, to make sure I’m achieving the most I can while also ensuring my happiness and wellbeing is a priority.”

Izzy’s course cohort are some of the almost 6,000 students currently accepting their UWE Bristol degrees over a fortnight of ceremonies (21-31 July).

Now she’s completed her degree, Izzy has her sights set on competing at the LA Olympics 2028. She continued: “It’s reassuring knowing that if anything impacts my swimming career, I now have my degree as well.”

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