For Black History Month, we spoke to some of our Black athletes on their experiences of sport at UCL...
Chiamaka Agu
UCL Lacrosse Club, Sports Officer 22/23
How has sport defined your time at UCL?
I quite honestly couldn’t imagine my time at UCL without it. I joined the Lacrosse Club right at the start of my first year and it really has been a constant throughout my time here. It keeps me busy (in a nice way) and has been such a great way for me to meet people and make friends from all over the uni. I put a great deal of my enjoyment of university down to my love of playing sport here. With it having contributed so greatly to my time at UCL, I’m glad to be able to round it off and help bring others the same positive experience, as Sports Officer this year.
What is your greatest sporting achievement at UCL?
Personally, my greatest achievement would be being named player of the match, in my first-year Varsity. Four years later, I still remember the game so vividly. The weather was horrendous; wind, rain, hail, you name it. Naturally, I had injured myself in the warmup, and my teammates practically carried me from end to end each quarter, but I dug deep and played through it. We had an amazing crowd on the sidelines, even through double overtime and a golden goal finish. Honestly, it felt a bit like something out of one of those sports movies. It was definitely one of those moments when I knew I’d left absolutely everything on the field, and it did also make me feel slightly better about my journey to A&E straight after it!
As a team, finishing second in the premiership, after being promoted that year.
What has been your proudest/ favourite moment with TeamUCL?
Probably one of the Sports Balls. Either collecting an award on behalf of my club as President in my 3rd year or presenting some of the awards this year as incoming Sports Officer. I found both experiences were really satisfying, full circle moments for me, and it’s always nice to be able to reflect on the year and celebrate everyone’s achievements. They were also great fun and a lovely way to end the year.
Why should students get involved with sport at UCL?
I’m slightly biased here, but it really is THE best way to do university. You get to meet and make friends with so many people from all over the university. You bond over a love of a shared sport and a combined goal to crush whichever team you’re up against. You get to go out and make memories, and it’s the perfect way to get out of your head after an intense day of lectures. You get emotional and sometimes academic support. It’s good for networking in the future and it helps you feel like you’re a part of the university. You get to keep fit, pick up new skills, take on leadership roles, give back to your community and overall it’s just extremely good fun. My list is endless. With over 70 clubs, there is a sports club out there for you, it’s always just a question of finding it. In my opinion, the potential benefits here will always outweigh the initial difficulties of putting yourself out there, and so I’d really urge you all to give it a go and find the club for you!
What do you think sports clubs could be doing to increase inclusivity at UCL?
I think it’s important to be aware of your club’s culture, any perceptions or stereotypes that may surround it, and any barriers this may create for people trying to join your club. As great as your club may be, it’s never easy to put yourself out there and walk into a new space, so you need to do all that you can to help people feel comfortable enough to try it out for themselves.
If your club is an inclusive space, let people know what you are doing to achieve that! However, actions speak louder than words and simply saying you’re an inclusive club will never be enough to prove it. To be an inclusive club, it really starts at the bare bones of making everyone feel comfortable, secure, seen and heard in your space, at all times. One-off inclusive gestures and statements are usually quite transparent and will rarely work. Aim to embed inclusivity into the core of your club’s culture and make it a priority in all your decisions. That’s when it’ll be felt, people will start to take notice, and you get to create inclusive spaces.