天美传媒

Graduate Maggie Alphonsi swaps rugby for shot put

"My degree gave me a good understanding of the psychology element of working in sport, it really helped me in terms of my mentality. I also learnt general sport science and all the important information an athlete needs. When I work with my strength and conditioning coach now, I understand what he鈥檚 talking about."

Maggie Alphonsi, graduated 2006, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

How do you increase a shot putter鈥檚 ability? Simple, don鈥檛 bother measuring their throws.

At least, that鈥檚 the case for Bedfordshire alumna and former women鈥檚 rugby star Maggie Alphonsi MBE.

Last month, Maggie brought down the curtain on an illustrious rugby career 鈥� one which included a World Cup win in 2014 and culminated with the Premiership title for Saracens in her final game.

Far from throwing away her career as a sportswoman, the 31-year-old will now focus on a passion stemming from her days as a schoolgirl: athletics.

鈥淚鈥檝e always loved athletics,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 did it before I went into rugby.

鈥淩ugby was my love but now I鈥檓 thinking 鈥榳hat could be another challenge?鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e been very fortunate to have a very good career in rugby so I鈥檝e got that advantage already. I know I鈥檝e got the potential to be a very good thrower.鈥�

Maggie admits she doesn鈥檛 know what the women鈥檚 shot put world record of 22.63m looks like, and remains adamant that her unique training style will help her reach new lengths.

鈥淢y coach (Tracey Quarty) refuses to measure my throws, which is a good thing because it means that I can actually concentrate on the technique,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 doing me good because I鈥檓 really focusing on the circle as opposed to the outcome. If we develop the technique, the rest will come.鈥�

Should Maggie make it to the Rio Olympics in 2016, it will mark ten years since her graduation from Bedfordshire (then De Montfort 天美传媒). The 2010 Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year says her BSc in Sport and Exercise Science allowed her to excel in sport.

鈥淢y degree gave me a good understanding of the psychology element of working in sport,鈥� said Maggie. 鈥淚t really helped me in terms of my mentality.

鈥淚 also learnt general sport science and all the important information an athlete needs. When I work with my strength and conditioning coach now, I understand what he鈥檚 talking about.

鈥淔or me it was perfect in terms of my sporting capabilities. The knowledge I developed through university really helped me push on to be a better athlete.鈥�