University of East London (UEL) sports scholar Joe Ikhinmwin has been selected to captain the England basketball team at next month’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Ikhinmwin, a native of east London, is currently studying for an MSc Sports Management degree at UEL and captains the London Lions Basketball Club.
He will be joining a sizeable UEL contingent Down Under, with advertising student Corinne Humphreys competing for England in the 100 metres and 4x100 metres relay and five former UEL students also chasing medals.
In athletics, Adam Gemili (100 metres and 4x100 metres relay) and Bianca Williams (200 metres and 4x100 metres relay) will both be seeking to add to the Commonwealth medals they won for England in Glasgow four years ago.
Gemili won two silvers in Scotland while Williams won a bronze.
Swimmer Aimee Willmott, a double silver medallist in Glasgow, will also be in action for England, while Ali Jawad, who won a bronze for England four years ago, returns in the powerlifting competition.
Completing the UEL line-up is former student Darren Wiafe-Morson, who will compete for Montserrat in the long jump.
“It is a great honour to be selected to represent my family, UEL, the London Lions and Basketball England at the Commonwealth Games,” said Ikhinmwin.
“I really hope I can use this opportunity of representing England to help young people realise that anything is possible.
“Competing at the Commonwealth Games will undoubtedly be an incredible experience.
“It is important that I use the opportunity as an example of what can be achieved with hard work, determination and the right attitude.”
Ikhinmwin began playing basketball at the age of 14, first in Whitechapel and then in Barking. He went on to captain the GB under-20 team at the European Championships.
He spent five years playing college basketball in the United States at South Carolina State University before starting his professional career in the UK.
He is the British Basketball League Slam Dunk champion and winner of the inaugural All-Star Basketball Championship.
And if his stellar sporting career wasn’t enough, he is an ambassador for the charity, London Sports Trust, and founder of ICanWin Sports, whose mission is to inspire and motivate young people through sport.
“I was fortunate to have some great role models as a child, and I set up ICanWin Sports to ensure even more young people are inspired and achieve their full potential through sport.
“ICanWin Sports works in partnership with a number of schools, sports clubs and community groups to deliver engaging and skills-based lessons through a range of sports activities.”
The Commonwealth Games 2018 will be hosted along Australia’s Gold Coast in Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville from 4-15 April.
An estimated 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 Commonwealth nations and territories will take part.
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