Sprinter Bianca Williams has become the third University of East London student to be selected for the Rio Olympics after being named in Team GB’s women’s 4 x 100 metres relay.

The 22-year-old was rewarded for her excellent performance last weekend when she helped Britain to the 4 x 100 metres silver medal at the European Championships in Amsterdam.

She will be joining fellow UEL students Aimee Willmott and Lawrence Okolie on the plane to Brazil, along with recent UEL graduates Adam Gemili and Szandra Szogedi.

Williams, who lives in Walthamstow, has just completed the final year of her degree in Sport and Exercise Science, and has already enjoyed medal success as a relay runner.

As well as her silver medal at the weekend, she has won relay bronzes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2015 World Relays in Nassau.

Her Olympic selection is a huge achievement after fitness problems over the winter left her struggling for form at last month’s British Championships and Olympic trials.

Unfortunately, fellow UEL sprinter 19-year-old Shannon Hylton, who has struggled with injury during the pre-season, missed out on Olympic selection.

Swimmer Aimee will compete in the 400 metres individual medley while boxer Lawrence will fight in the heavyweight division.

Track sprinter Gemili, who graduated from UEL last year, had already booked his place in the 200 metres in Rio with his victory at the qualifying trials.

He has also been selected for the men’s 4x 100 metres relay after he, James Dasaolu, James Ellington and CJ Ujah raced to the gold medal in Amsterdam in a time of 38.17 seconds.

Szogedi, who finished her degree at UEL two years ago, will be competing for Ghana in Rio in judo.

UEL’s Director of Sport David Cosford said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Bianca Williams will be joining Aimee Willmott and Lawrence Okolie at the Rio Olympics.

“At UEL we really do enable athletes to excel whilst at the same time keeping their studies and future careers on track.

“All our Olympians are tremendous role models to other students, and we will all be shouting them on during the Games.”