Evolution: The beneficiaries of mass extinction

Jonny Davies, third year Biochemistry student and University of Birmingham sport scholar, last week bought home 2 medals for the GB Athletics team at the World University Games in Taipei. With a Silver in the 5000m and a Bronze for 1500m, Davies is proving to be one of the ones to watch on the track, especially given the extremely competitive nature of the 5000m. Competing in 4 gruelling races over 6 days, in temperatures that exceeded 30 degrees and humidity that rarely dropped below 60%, Davies' latest success at the World University Games really showcases his progression. Davies has previously proved his talent by becoming the first ever British male to claim the U23 European Cross-Country title in 2015, followed by starting his senior career in the European Senior Championships 5000m in 2016. He has won numerous medals at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) track and cross-country events over the years, topping the list this year with a Gold in the 1500m. And if this latest achievement in Taipei is anything to go by, this is only the beginning for Davies. However, every hero has an Achilles heel, and it was the collaborative team effort of Davies and the support team at the University acknowledging that where he was very successful in colder climate events, in the heat he tended to struggle.