Olympic star receives alumni award - graduate jobs

Olympic cycling champion and science graduate Paul Manning has be honoured with a special award at his former university.

The 34-year-old, who was part of Team GB's gold-medal winning pursuit team at the Beijing Games last year, said he was delighted as he collected Birmingham University's Alumni of the Year Award.

The accolade marks the achievements of former students. Manning, from Stockport, graduated with a degree in Earth Sciences in 1996.

He spoke of his time at the university, saying he enjoyed the campus life and the choice of activities the city offers a student.

"My time there certainly changed my life by giving me the platform and confidence to pursue my sporting goals, safe in the knowledge that I had a great education from a well respected university behind me," he added.

The sports star, who during his career won silver at the Athens Olympics and bronze at the Sydney 2000 Games, has now retired from cycling after winning the gold in Beijing.

Nick Blinco, of Birmingham University, said they were delighted to recognise Manning's sporting achievement with this award and added that he hoped his successes would inspire future generations to achieve similar heights.