An Aberdeen student judo star has won the right to take part in a prestigious Europe-wide competition in France.
Alison Wilson will represent the University of Aberdeen in the European University Sports Association (EUSA) Championships in October following her silver medal success at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) finals in February.
The EUSA is only open to students that qualify from their domestic university competitions, so Alison will be competing against the best competitors from universities across the continent.
“Taking on the best competitors from across Europe will be a big step up for me but it will be a fantastic challenge and an exciting opportunity," she said.
Fourth-year Zoology student Alison, originally from Edinburgh, began judo in primary school and has gone from strength to strength since then. She credits her success in no small part to the University’s support, especially while she was overcoming an operation.
“The University of Aberdeen Development Trust Sports Bursary Scheme has helped me a lot over the last four years. During my second year I had to have an operation on my knee. I was very fortunate and had minimal pain and a quick recovery.
“I put my speedy recovery down to the excellent help from the university sport and exercise team as well as my physiotherapist. They have helped me through all of my recovery and I am now able to compete at the high level that I was at before my injury. I would have struggled to do it without their great help. The scheme has also given me funding which has allowed me to travel to training and competitions across the country.
“I’m really looking forward to the EUSA event. What will I do in the future? I don't really know what will happen in the future but I will definitely be continuing in the sport. I love to push myself to see how far I can get.”
The EUSA Judo championships will be held in Reimes, France from October 8-11, 2015.