Mel Nicholls

Mel studied BSc (Hons) Equine Science at Hartpury. She competed in the wheelchair racing event at the London 2012 Paralympics, just 15 months after taking up the sport. She went on to be part of the GB Athletics team, achieving track world records, European and World medal success and becoming a Paralympic finalist at both London 2012 and Rio 2016. In 2018, she smashed the world record for handcycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, completing the 874-mile Handcycle Britain challenge in six days, 22 hours and 17 minutes – beating the previous record by more than three days.

"I’d heard such great things about Hartpury at school that since then, my sole focus was on gaining a place on the BSc Equine Science course. I’ve always had great interest in veterinary medicine, rehabilitation, and a love of horses in sport. The practical sessions and visits to local equine hospitals and research opportunities were amazing. Lecturers were not only experts in their field, but also supportive outside of studies.

Having my own horse at Hartpury meant I could combine my studies with my love of horses and competing, as well as benefiting from use of Hartpury’s world-class facilities. The phrase ‘Hartpury Family’ has been coined time and time again – and it’s so true! Friends made at Hartpury have been friends for life. Hartpury has been huge asset to my sports career and I’m so proud to be part of its story and to have its continued support.

Working with an expert team of coaches and sports scientists enabled me to train and prepare at my best, whether that’s through physio support or state-of-the-art laboratory testing, and to push new boundaries in elite performance. I look forward to continuing to share knowledge and experience with students in the classroom and supporting its strong ethos of Dream, Nurture, Achieve."

More success from Hartpury...

Hear from more of our success stories and see how Hartpury helped them to achieve their dreams.