Medallist returns from European Championships to graduate

Sport Business student Rio Boothe graduates the day after competing in international para championship

Sport Business student Rio Boothe has returned from the European Para Laser Run Championships to graduate with a 2:1 in BA Sport Business.

Rio returned from Portugal, after coming 2nd in the European Para Laser Run Championships in Laser Sport (PMP2 classification), the day ahead of his graduation.

LJMU Sport Scholar

As an LJMU Sport Scholar, (a scheme which helps talented students fulfil both their sporting and their academic potential) Rio has spent the past three years studying at LJMU while competing at an international level in Para-Laser Sport and Athletics. Rio has Cerebral Palsy Right-Sided Hemiplegia, causing paralysis on one side of his body. During his studies he came first in the World Para Laser Run Championships in 2023, where he set a new world record.

On managing his sport training with academia, Rio said:

“It feels so good to be graduating today. It’s been hard work but my lecturers are so understanding of my training and competitions. I’ve had various extensions and assignment/exam support. I was training for the European Championships 2024 while completing my dissertation. Up until May last year I didn’t even know about Laser Run, competing in it all happened so quickly, so to have the support, with LJMU behind me has been amazing.”

Rio also received special recognition for the best Sport Business Award for Best Project. The subject of his project? Laser Sport!

The award isn’t the first time Rio has received acknowledgement for his achievements. Earlier this year he was named in the Liverpool Echo’s ‘30 under 30’ for his achievements as a para-athlete alongside his work for various charities.

So what’s next for Rio?

Rio plans to return to LJMU in September to study an MSc in Digital Marketing: “I’m really excited about a new challenge as digital marketing and content creation is something I’ve been really interested in for a long time.”

Alongside his postgrad, Rio plans to continue competing in para sport at an international level:

“The big dream would one day be the Paralympics...” Watch this space.