For Black History Month, we spoke to some of our Black athletes about their experiences of sport at UCL...
Seyi Adeleye
UCL Women’s Rugby Club
How has sport defined your time at UCL?
Knowing I’d have 6 years at university has meant from the beginning I knew I’d want to try and continue to my sport here. And I’m glad to have been able to successfully do that for 4 out of the last 5 years and support the girls throughout all 5. Being part of UCL Women’s rugby has meant from day one of starting university I’ve had a community on campus. From attending my first pre-season training and sports night back in 2017, to Vice-Captaining the team last season - the team has been a huge part of my time at UCL. From Wednesday night Socials to Monday evening trainings, to whenever-works committee meetings, not only has being part of the team always given me something to do, always giving me a warm and welcoming community to be part of, but it’s just made university a whole lot of fun and helped me make good friends. My dad told me when starting uni, ‘Don’t just go through university, but let it go through you’, i.e. enjoy it, let it change you for the better. I’ve seen this come to fruition in the last 5 years and know UCL Women’s Rugby played a big role in it – it's been one constant (as well as my course) during my time here.
What is your greatest sporting achievement at UCL?
I have two that both include varsity – The first is being selected for and playing in Varsity 2017. We had (and always have had) an incredible team that year so to be selected as part of the team in my first year, I felt very honoured. The second is being scouted for a Championship level Rugby club during Varsity 2021. Otherwise, it was the time I played a whole match through without getting any injuries.
What has been your proudest/ favourite moment with TeamUCL?
So many to choose from! From a charity night in 2017 when the club brought ULU back for one night, to organising an amazing mystery tour to Brighton last season, I’ve had a lot of great moments with TeamUCL. Controversially, my proudest moment is not to do with me but with my best friend, Deborah Alawode. My proudest moment was collecting the Sportswoman of the Year 2022 award on her behalf (she was competing in the European Weightlifting games so couldn’t attend). Living (and sometimes training), with her for the past 4 years, having her in my life for the past 5 and watch her excel not only in her sport but in all aspects of life, made it such an honour to accept the award on her behalf. A black female athlete herself, she constantly inspires me to do my best in my sport, look after my body and celebrate my wins. TeamUCL is filled with incredible athletes that I get to be surrounded by, in both my team and through interactions elsewhere and that’s really special.
Why should students get involved with sport at UCL?
From a very practical point of view, it helps you physically, emotionally and mentally when joining university. I got involved with the Rugby team in my first week or so of uni. It meant from practically day 1 I had a group to go to, to ask about all things university and since there were older girls on my course, also to help me with tutorials and course content etc too. Nobody talks about how difficult it can be in the first few weeks of university and joining a sport really helps you settle in more in my experience. Being part of a sport keeps you active and moving which is always really important for both physical and mental health reasons too. Those points aside, its just so much FUN. The other wonderful thing about sport at UCL is that there are so so many clubs and sports you may not have even heard of or had the opportunity to try out, so there will be something for you – and if not, you can still join socially to get to know people (and they’ll probably convince you to love their sport in no time!).
What do you think sports clubs could be doing to increase inclusivity at UCL?
Good question. I think that not only with sports clubs, but for all clubs and societies at UCL the key is meeting people where they are at. Think about your socials, do they cater to everyone or just to a certain demographic? Some societies I joined in first year claimed to be trying to increase inclusivity but only held events that stereotypically catered to white upper class people. There’s nothing wrong with that, but that’s not where I stayed because I didn’t grow up white and upper class. It’s not where I felt welcomed or like I fit in. There’s nothing wrong with having those events, but alongside them have events that would reach your ‘target demographic’ and if that’s all demographics, then have a variety of events that cater for a variety of demographics; not just a one-off event for black history month, or pride in sport month, or disability awareness month/week or postgraduate highlight week, but as part of your club/sport’s everyday working, as part of their DNA. Have non-drinking sports nights, socials where afro-beats are played, support players at their K-pop recitals, hold walking tours of London in different languages that you may already have within the team. Don’t just wait for people to meet you, the team and the sport where you are but meet them where they are. Oftentimes, people aren’t necessarily joining the sport just for the sport but for the people and community that come with it.
What have been your experiences of being a black/mixed race athlete at UCL?
Average. As in, it’s been great overall, but that’s just in terms of being an athlete at UCL in general. I’ve not had anything that has really affected my time with TeamUCL in regards to my race specifically. I’m extremely lucky to have not experienced any racism in UCL specifically in regard to sport. I have elsewhere during my time here, so I guess a positive is that sport and my team has been quite a ‘safe space’ for lack of a better term, which I know is not always the case for people. I’ve often been the only/one of few black women in my team and whilst I’ve always been aware of that, it’s never really made me feel other or like I stood out or didn’t fit in and that’s great. Please don’t use this to say all TeamUCL sport is great and inclusive as I don’t want people who have faced racism and hard times in other teams and scenarios to feel silenced. However, speaking only for UCL Women’s rugby – they’ve been great. Apart from that, it was interesting to see TeamUCL and different teams’ responses to George Floyd and black lives matter. Everyone stood against racism, and vowed to do better, but it would be interesting to see what actions have been taken apart from policies and targets put in place – as that is somewhere I don’t think I’ve seen much change.