University of New England student Alexandria Teixeira has her sights set on competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a "sterling performance" in team rhythmic gymnastics at the Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy.
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The biannual Summer Universiade brings together the world's best student-athletes for 12 days of intense competition. It is billed as the second-largest multi-sport event after the Olympics.
Teixeira travelled to Italy along with UNE medical alumnus Jack Hodges, a member of the Games medical team, and UNE staff member David Schmude, president of UniSports Australia.
Teixeira was one of five athletes in the Premiere Gymnastics Academy team selected for the rhythmic gymnastics division for Naples.
The team scored 18.8 in both finals - the first time a team from Australia has scored over 18 points in an international competition.
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"I feel very honoured to represent the Uniroos and UNE at the World Summer Universiade. I really enjoyed the international competition," Teixeira said.
To boost her chances of representing Australian at the Tokyo Olympics, she has to find the right balance between her studies and gymnastics.
She is studying a bachelor of exercise and sports science.
Schmude heads UniSport, an organisation that supports university sport and is the representative for Australia at the Summer Universiade. He is also UNE Life chief executive.
"It was great to see how the Games not only foster opportunities for student athletes but also create an occasion for university staff to participate in," he said.
"I hope to use this experience in my role as CEO of UNE Life, especially towards the UNE Sports Academy program that supports elite athletes studying at UNE."
Hodges graduated from UNE in 2016 with a bachelor of medicine. He tended to the health concerns of the athletes in the village and was a part of emergency units alongside events.
He works in the emergency department at Armidale Hospital.
