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Student sprinter is UK's fastest indoors

Athlete speeds past the competition to take 60m gold at national indoor champsionships.

Bournemouth Chiropractic student Sven Knipphals became the fastest student athlete in the UK indoors this year after taking the gold medal at the recent BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Indoor Athletics Championships in Sheffield.

The 25-year-old from Wolfsburg in Germany swept the opposition aside in just 6.79 seconds to take the title and win his ninth BUCS medal in all competitions. Last year, Sven came second in the 60m sprint and claimed gold in the 200m indoors.

“It feels great to be the fastest student in the UK over 60m, especially because my 60m was never that good,” said Sven. “The first 40m were always my weakest part of the race but that improved now.

"Taking part at BUCS is always amazing as there is a very good level of competition,” he continued.

Sven is studying for a Masters in Chiropractic (MChiro) at the Anglo-European Chiropractic College in Bournemouth, an Associate College of BU. He had been looking forward to the German Indoor Championships following his success in the UK. However a hamstring injury has ruled Sven out of contention as he looks to the outdoor season and an opportunity to represent Germany at the World Athletics Championship in South Korea.