Three Extraordinary Sporting Icons Enter University’s Sports Hall of Fame

Three sporting icons from the worlds of swimming, television presenting and ultrarunning have been inducted into the University’s Sports Hall of Fame

Iconic Scottish Swimmer  

Lucy Hope is a seven-time European champion swimmer who made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020. A specialist in the 100 and 200 metre freestyle, Lucy was a key member of the University Performance Swimming Programme. 

Inspiring Broadcaster and Presenter 

JJ Chalmers is a Scottish television presenter and Invictus Games medallist. He was wounded in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2011, while serving as a Royal Marine.  In 2016 JJ Chalmers made history as the first disabled presenter to present across both the Olympic Games (BBC1) and Paralympic Games (Channel 4).  

History Making Ultra Runner 

Jasmin Paris is an ultra-marathon runner and alumni and veterinarian at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science. She was the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons, one of the world’s toughest sporting challenges. Jasmin is one of only 20 people to complete the gruelling 100-mile race within its 60-hour time limit in its 38-year history. 

“It is with great pride that we induct these three exceptional sporting icons into our University Sports Hall of Fame. Their remarkable performances and impact on the global stage serve as a beacon of inspiration for all members of our sports and active well-being community here at Edinburgh. Their influence extends far beyond our City, reinforcing our University's position as a premier destination for talented student and staff athletes seeking to pursue their academic and sporting aspirations in the UK." 

Mark Munro Head of Sport and Active Health, The University of Edinburgh 

Extraordinary Sporting Talent 

Edinburgh’s Sports Hall of Fame now boasts 51 world class athletes across 20 sports. Previous inductees include six-time Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, Olympic gold medallist rower Katherine Grainger, and Olympic 400 metre running champion Eric Liddell. 

Performance Programme 

Many of Edinburgh’s elite athletes have been supported by the University’s Performance Programme. The Programme provides funding, tailored fitness conditioning and sports medicine care to help them succeed on the world sporting stage. 

The Programme also offers access to top class competition and training facilities, advice and flexible study options. 

Related Links 

This article was published on