King’s Honours Its Most Eminent Sporting Figures at the First Sport Hall of Fame Ceremony

King’s College London Alumni Association and King’s Sport welcomed everyone to the inaugural King’s Sport Hall of Fame. This event was organised to recognise the importance of sport in past and present university life. We are thrilled that the event in May 2022 was hosted by King’s alumna, Dame Katherine Grainger.

Selection process criteria & categories:

A panel of six undertook an extensive review of both historical and current records to document the contributions of former and current students to the sporting life of their respective Colleges, Hospitals, and the broader University community that now make up King’s College London.

To date, over 160 individuals who graduated from King’s or its constituent Colleges have been identified as having represented their countries across more than 12 different sports. Inductions into the Hall of Fame will occur every one to two years, recognising honourees across three distinct categories.

1. “Significant playing achievement: Alumni or students who have achieved national or international recognition having represented their country in competitive sport and have brought credit to King’s and its alumni by having done so. These will be both current and historical.”


2. “Commitment to sport: Staff, alumni or students who have brought sustained enthusiasm and commitment to King’s sport which has enabled their sport(s) to survive and thrive.”


3. “Sporting clubs: Clubs which have nurtured their sport, achieved national prominence and spawned multiple internationals (or persons) fulfilling criteria for admission into the Hall of Fame.”

Launch:

In May 2022 the King’s Sports Hall of Fame was launched in association with King’s Sport. Originally planned for launch in 2021 we were able to hold the launch once in person events were again possible. A reception for some 150 members of King’s sports clubs, alumni sports clubs and staff, was hosted by Professor Richard Trembath and Dame Katherine Grainger, our Co-Patron, who was the first inductee.

Dame Katherine then inducted 12 alumni, seven posthumously, for significant sporting achievement, one for his commitment to sport at Kings, and Guy’s Hospital RFC, a founding member of the Rugby Football Union in the sports club category. The next event will be held in 2024. Again, we were very grateful to Professor Stephen Challacombe, whose idea it was, for leading on this for KCLA.

Sources:

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/ks-halloffame