Olympic champion alumnus Rory Gibbs inspires current students

The Oxford Brookes sporting community gathered on 16 March for the annual Inside Track careers event, featuring insights from alumnus and Olympic gold medalist Rory Gibbs and a panel of industry experts.

Alumnus Rory Gibbs - European Rowing Champion, two-times World Champion, and Olympic Champion - shared his inspiring journey to elite rowing success and discussed his current work supporting the next generation through mentoring, public speaking, and writing.

Expert Industry Panel

Students also heard from a graduate and employer panel chaired by Kit Cutter, Lecturer in Sport & Coaching Sciences. The panel featured speakers from the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and The Gym Group, appearing alongside several successful alumni.

This year’s theme, "Beyond the Finish Line: Building Careers with Confidence," carried a clear message for all in attendance: building a career with confidence involves engaging in endorsed courses and professional qualifications, gaining applied experience, and developing valuable industry connections. These elements work together to strengthen character and increase the likelihood of long-term success.

Making connections

We send our thanks to Rory, our panel speakers, and the practitioners for joining us. It was wonderful to see so many meaningful conversations taking place, and we trust that these connections will be followed up positively by our students.

Get Involved in 2027 If you are a practitioner in the sport, physical activity, health, or education sectors and would like to join us for the 2027 Inside Track event, please email kcutter@brookes.ac.uk.