A Question of Sport
By: Communications
Joe Skeet, Student Performance Sport Manager, and Serena Grace, a sprinter who was on the UEA+ Elite Scholarship Programme and was recently awarded a first in BSc Physical Education and Sports Health, visited BBC Radio Norfolk to talk to Chris Goreham about elite sport at UEA, the range of sports clubs on campus, and Serena’s Olympic dream.
Chris: Why is Serena here? Well, according to the University of East Anglia, budding professional athletes can follow their academic dreams at the same time. With the Olympic Games underway, UEA is shining a spotlight on the scholarship programme that gives talented athletes, like Serena, the support to combine their sporting development with their academic studies.
So, Joe, people like Serena who have shown great talent in their sport get to a point where they traditionally feel like they've got make a decision. Do you try and go professional? Do you concentrate on your sport and just do that at the neglect of your studies? It's a tough choice, isn't it?
Joe: Yes, it's a really, really difficult choice. Which one do you focus on? You know, it's sensible to try and have a career and education as well. So, we try and be really flexible with that at UEA. All of our scholars get academic flexibility to help them manage that dual career, which is hopefully really exciting, and hopefully something that Serena can attest to as well.
Chris: How have you found it, Serena? Because you've got to that point now, haven't you, where you're promising enough to think there might be a career in sport, but anything can happen in sport, so you've almost got to have something else as well?
Serena: Definitely. I think it's wise to have a backup plan and I've always been quite academic as well, so I have very much enjoyed studying, gaining a degree, and sprinting at the same time. I've been able to develop my academic skills and and do well in it, but also have that community at UEA where I'm gaining that extra bit of support with my athletics.
Chris: I think stereotypically there is a thought that people are very good at sport, and I don't include myself in that, but you've got this sport and that's your main thing, and you don't really care about the studies as much. But from the way you're speaking, that isn't the case?
Serena: I think so. It is very common, like you said. But from my personal experience, I think because in an athletic world, you always want to do so well, you always want to give 100% and nothing less, I then implement that into other areas of my life.
Automatically I'm like, oh, my goodness, I just want to do well in this, that and the other, and just give 100% in everything I do - and I think it has paid off. I've just received a first in my degree at UEA and I'm also doing well sporting wise. So, I want to continue to study but also sprint at the same time.
Study Physical Education and Sports Health at UEA
Chris: You must be a nightmare to play Scrabble against.
Serena: I am!
Chris: The bit I would worry about is, if you're in the classroom doing your studies, is there a bit of you thinking, if I'm not out on the track, my times might suffer? How do you get your head around that?
Serena: Yes, 100%. I feel like because I've been at uni for three years now, I've definitely been able to learn how to balance things. Obviously, there's a great support network at the Sportspark with the UEA Sport Team.
So, I know that if I need that extra bit of support, I can either go to my lecturers or Joe, he'll be my first point of contact, and get that support if I need to. Because as an athlete, you do have anxieties. It's not like we're so strong minded we don’t face those challenges as well, especially at uni, when you're having exams and assignments, it is going to get stressful. I think that's when it's so important to continue to run, continue to go to the gym, and things will definitely get better.
Chris: How do you aid people with that balance then, Joe? Because it can't be easy.
Joe: It is difficult. They've got lots of commitments, all of the training, potentially working jobs as well to fund their degrees. We offer direct support through our performance team here, and we also offer, as I mentioned previously, academic flexibility, so there can be extensions if required, or if they're away at a training camp, they might be able to get authorised absences and things like that. We're also keen on sort of supporting athletes with their lifestyle as well.
We know it's difficult juggling numerous commitments and Serena does an excellent job of that - she’s one of the busiest people I know! We sit down with them, talk through some of those challenges, and hopefully empower them make a decision that's going to suit their academic and sporting careers. We are very much empowering the athletes to make the decisions that are right for them, because it's their lives, it's not for us to tell them what to do.
Hopefully it comes across that we have a very friendly, very empowering network for athletes to use.
Chris: To prove that it works, Serena, we're lucky to have you in the studio because this time next week, we couldn't, could we?
Serena: No, I'll be away! Next Friday I'll leave to go to the USA, which I'm super excited about. I'm in the period where I'm packing and sorting everything out before I fly. I'm going to Iowa for my full scholarship to pursue my athletic career, but also further my academics, which will be amazing.
Chris: It feels like in the American system they are much more used to juggling education with college sports. The system is huge over there, isn't it?
Serena: Definitely. it's so huge. My future coach in the USA, he is so supportive, and I think that was a key deciding factor for me, to choose a uni where there's a support system, just like UEA, and they have amazing facilities there as well.
I just wanted to get away from this British winter weather really!
Chris: How inspiring has it been watching the Olympics?
Serena: It’s been so inspiring. It's a shame that the Jamaicans weren't in the 200 metres, I was really excited to see Shelly-Ann Fraser run because she's one of my idols. It’s been amazing watching them, it makes me want it even more. Hopefully, all being well, I can make LA 2028. That's the goal.
Chris: What about this, Joe?
Joe: I can see the determination. I've got to know Serena well over the last couple of years, and she’s been sensible in managing all the academics, and she’s so driven but so humble with it.
Chris: We’ll want to see a Norfolk flag when you win your gold medal.
Serena: Definitely. I'll represent Norfolk all the way!
Chris: If we've got anyone listening who has family members, or they themselves are at a point where they're having to make a decision, how do they find out more about what you offer
Joe: First of all, there's the UEA Sports scholarship website, which details all of the information and lists the support and services talented athletes can access at UEA.
There's also a massive sporting programme at UEA in general for those that want to have a bit of fun and keep fit and healthy. You know, we have 57 sports club, we have an active campus programme where people can get discounted sort of activity sessions. There's dog walking, there's walks around the beautiful county of Norfolk as well. People can visit the UEA Sport or the UEA Sport scholarship websites and explore the whole breadth of what we offer. There's hopefully something for everyone there.