Leeds Beckett University Launches Sport Hall of Fame Celebrating Sporting Legends

Leeds Beckett University's Carnegie College has a rich legacy of producing sporting talent, with the university's alumni including Olympic champions, world-class athletes, and influential coaches. The university's first-ever Sport Hall of Fame aims to celebrate this legacy by inducting individuals who have made a lasting impact across various sports disciplines. The launch event, hosted by BBC sports presenter Tanya Arnold, will take place at the Carnegie School of Sport, featuring a host of inductees who will return to the university that played a significant part in their successful sporting journeys.

Key Takeaways:

• The Leeds Beckett University Sport Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements of the university's alumni who have made a lasting impact in various sports disciplines, including football, rugby league, rugby union, athletics, and paralympic sport.
• The inductees span generations, with legendary figures such as Sir Walter Winterbottom CBE, Dee Caffari MBE, and Sir Ian McGeechan OBE being recognized for their contributions to football, sailing, and rugby union, respectively.
• The Hall of Fame aims to inspire the next generation of stars, with inductees including Olympic champions Alistair Brownlee OBE, Georgia Taylor-Brown MBE, and Alex Yee MBE, as well as Paralympic athlete Rebecca Foster MBE.
• The list of inductees includes 27 individuals, comprising both men and women, who have made significant contributions to their respective sports.
• The Hall of Fame launch event will take place at the Carnegie School of Sport, featuring a host of inductees, including Olympic medalists, world-class athletes, and influential coaches.
• Among the inductees are former Leeds Rhinos and England Rugby League players Lois Forsell and Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE, who will be returning to the university where they Further information can be found by visiting [https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/)

Statistics:

• 27 individuals are being inducted into the Leeds Beckett University Sport Hall of Fame.
• The inductees include 19 men and 8 women.
• The list of inductees spans generations, with athletes, coaches, and leaders being recognized for their contributions to their respective sports.
• The Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements of the university's alumni in 11 different sports disciplines.
• The Carnegie School of Sport will host the Hall of Fame launch event, featuring a host of inductees.

Sources:

• "Since 1933, when Carnegie College was founded" (https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/education/top-10-yorkshire-universities-complete-university-guide-2026-5168451)
• "This includes Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee OBE, Emily Campbell, the first British woman to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting" (https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/other-sport/three-time-olympic-gold-brownlee-brothers-scoop-sporting-pride-of-leeds-award-at-anniversary-ceremony-4069302)
• "The Hall of Fame celebrates this legacy, recognising individuals who have made a lasting impact across disciplines" (https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/keely-hodgkinson-leeds-beckett-student-wins-bbc-sports-personality-of-the-year-after-olympic-success-4914203)
• Full list of the inductees: Ron Pickering OBE - Athletics; Wilf Paish MBE - Athletics; Mick Hill - Athletics Javelin; Laura Weightman - Athletics Middle Distance Running; Tom Bosworth MBE - Athletics Race Walking; Iain Dyer - Cycling; Andy Banks MBE - Diving; Yona Knight-Wisdom - Diving; Sir Walter Winterbottom CBE - Football; Bill Slater CBE - Football; Emma Lipman - Football; Julie Nelson BEM - Football; Graham Potter - Football; Gemma Bonner - Football; Paul Heckingbottom - Football; Jade Moore - Football; Howard Wells OBE - Football; Claire O'Hara MBE - Freestyle Kayaking, Squirt Boating; Rebecca Foster MBE - Heptathlete & Deaflympics Coach; Natalie Panagarry - Netball; Dr Bob Price OBE - Paralympic Multi-sport; Tom Williams - Parkrun/Community Sport; Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE - Rugby League; Lois Forsell - Rugby League; Jimmy Keinhorst - Rugby League; Kevin Sinfield CBE - Rugby League; Jamie Peacock MBE - Rugby League; Tom Briscoe - Rugby League; Sir Ian McGeechan OBE - Rugby Union; John Gallagher - Rugby Union; Emily Scarratt - Rugby Union; Dee Caffari MBE - Sailing; Cyril Villiers MBE - Table Tennis; Alistair Brownlee OBE - Triathlon; Georgia Taylor-Brown MBE - Triathlon; Alex Yee MBE - Triathlon; Emily Campbell - Weightlifting