FOUR WELSH CYCLISTS IN BEIJING PARALYMPICS SQUAD
ParalympicsGB has today named four Welsh cyclists as part of the ten-strong cycling squad set to represent Britain at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Beijing. Jody Cundy, Ellen Hunter, Rachel Morris and Simon Richardson have all been selected to compete on the road and on track.
Swansea-based cyclist Jody Cundy, who is originally from Wisbech, was a Paralympic champion in the pool but he transferred his allegiance to the track two years ago.
Twenty-nine year-old Cundy, who made his Paralympic debut in Atlanta in 1996 by winning gold in the 100m backstroke, made an instant impact as a rider, winning the team sprint and setting a world record at the 2006 Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.
Since then, Cundy has won a number of world championship titles and is set to travel to his first Games as world champion in both his events.
He said: “I’m really pleased with my selection for the Beijing Paralympics, it’ll be my fourth Games, but my first as a cyclist, so I’m looking forward to writing my name in another sport’s history books.
”As reigning world champion, gold is my obvious targets in both the LC2 kilo and team sprint but with the Chinese riders closing in fast and racing on home soil the pressures going to be on.”
Meanwhile, this will be the first Games for Porthcawl’s Simon Richardson. Richardson, who returned to cycling following a road traffic accident, has progressed quickly in the sport to make his international debut at the 2007 Cycling World Championships in France.
He said: “I am thrilled to be joining the British Paralympic Cycling Team and representing Great Britain at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. As this is only my third year back on the bike the progression from returning to cycling to now has been extremely fast, and I can only put this down to the encouragement of my coach Mr Courtney Rowe, and the support of my wife and family. I just hope that I can live up to the expectations of all and bring back some medals.”
Also named in today’s squad is current Paralympic champion Ellen Hunter who is originally from Wrexham She is a pilot guide to the visually impaired Aileen McGlynn (Glasgow). The duo will certainly be looking to add to their personal medal hauls from Athens.
Rachel Morris – who hails from Pembrokeshire – is a Games debutante but she also has two world championship titles under her belt.
Helen Mortimer, British Cycling’s Performance Manager, said: “We’ve got an exceptional team for the Paralympic Games so it is a good opportunity to build on our success at the 2007 World Championships in Bordeaux, where we took 13 gold medals.”
British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford added: “The Great Britain Paralympic Cycling Team has continued to develop to such a point where it is clearly both the strongest and most professional Paralympic Cycling Team from Great Britain in living memory. The very tough selection decisions which had to be made are a testament to the strength and depth of talent within our Paralympic cycling programme. In keeping with the overall philosophy of the team we will leave no stone unturned in its quest for Paralympic success.”
ParalympicsGB Chief Executive Phil Lane, said: “I’m delighted to be able to confirm the selection of these ten cyclists for the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. Britain’s cyclists have proved themselves to be among the best in the world by topping the medal table at the 2007 cycling world championships and I look forward to watching them try and replicate this success at Paralympic level this summer.
“I would like to congratulate these athletes on being selected for the ParalympicsGB and welcome them to our team for Beijing.”
The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games opens on September 6 and closes on September 17. The track cycling events at the Games take place at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing from September 7 to 10 with the road cycling taking place from September 12 to 14.
At the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games Britain finished second in the medal table with a total of 35 golds, 30 silver and 29 bronze medals. With competitive standards continually rising and the dominant Chinese team taking the home advantage ParalympicsGB recognises that the 2008 Paralympics will be one of its biggest challenges yet.
For further information about ParalympicsGB, please contact Sian Davies in the Press Office on 0207 211 5240 or 07721 892686 or by email at sian.davies@paralympics.org.uk. For news updates visit the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk
N.B ParalympicsGB is the trading name of the British Paralympic Association.
For further information about British Cycling contact Richard Truman or Abby Burton on 0161 274 2080 or by email to richardtruman@britishcycling.org.uk
