Congratulations to Robinson Veterinary student Phoebe Barker for her well deserved award 'Cambridge University Sports Person of the Year 2024'.

This is what Cambridge University Sport say about Phoebe:

Phoebe is an incredibly talented athlete, who balances three sports (running, cycling, swimming) and four University Sports Clubs at Blues/National/International level (Hare and Hounds, Athletics, Triathlon, Cycling), whilst studying for her final year of Veterinary Medicine.

I have never met someone so driven and dedicated to achieving the highest levels of sport and academics as Phoebe is. She works tirelessly to achieve her goals, through early mornings and late nights, without any complaints. I have no doubt that Phoebe has the most Blues and BUCS medals of anyone in the University! This year, her hard work has paid off on an International level after she earned her first ever GB vest and her first England vest in 7 years. Phoebe frequently has double race weekends where she represents the University twice for different clubs, showing her commitment to supporting the Light Blues. Therefore, I wholeheartedly believe that Phoebe Barker should win Sports Person of the Year!  

Her list of achievements for this year alone include (but are not limited to):  

• Winning BUCS Hill Climb (for a second year in a row) as an individual and as part of the winning Blues Team  
• Winning Varsity Hill Climb and setting a new course record  
• Team Silver at BUCS Team Time Trial  
• 2nd in the Cambridge Half Marathon (on her debut for this distance)  
• Competing at FISU World University Championships for Cross Country, coming in the top 10 individually and winning the team prize  
• Winning BUCS Duathlon  
• Winning British and English Duathlon championship  
• 2nd at BUCS 10km  
• Winning Cowman World Standard Distance Dalton Qualifier by over 12 minutes  
• 2nd at Podium 5k  
• Represented England at Cross Internacional de Itálica 
• World Cross Country Trial: 5th

I'm sure I have overlooked many of Phoebe's achievements but it is safe to say that she is a truly incredible athlete. Phoebe is an asset to Athletics, the Hare & Hounds, Triathlon and Cycling as well as the university and the UK more broadly. She brings an incredible energy and enthusiasm to training and is a real inspiration to others around her having managed all her incredible achievements whilst in her final year as a vet student as well as a running coach for Modern Pentathlon and CuTri and women's race captain for CU Cycling. Recognising Phoebe as Sports Person of the Year would be to acknowledge her fantastic achievements in the case of adversity and injury. She has always come back stronger and pursued a path to excellence.