By Jacque Talbot
Manchester Met’s very own Sports Scholars have done the university proud by winning gold at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. Cyclist Helen Scott has won gold and bronze medals and Kadeena Cox has made history by becoming the first Paralympian since 1988 to win gold in two different sports.
Kadeena, a GB Paralympic cyclist and athletics competitor, suffered a stroke in 2014 which left her with multiple sclerosis. She told Humanity Hallows, “I am a very determined and competitive person.”
Kadeena is a BSc Physiotherapy student, but put her plans on hold to pursue her dream of golden glory at the 2016 Paralympics. She said, “I deferred my studies until after Rio, instead of doing two things sort of half-heartedly. After Rio, I can focus on my degree – I want to be a neurological physiotherapist.”
The university’s Sports Scholarship programme is aimed at students with a natural interest in seeing their sporting potential being fulfilled, and so it seems, the programme has now enabled a new generation of British sports champions in these pair of sport stars.
Helen Scott, is another extremely talented cyclist who has won gold at Rio 2016 in the 1km time trial and bronze in 3km individual pursuit. Scott insists she still is focused on her BSC Sport and Exercise Science degree at Manchester Met University: “Study is a nice distraction, learning something away from training is really nice – to be able to switch off and focus on something else. My tutors have been amazing, it’s worked out perfectly and I’m on a roll now so I can keep going after Rio.”
Previously at the Commonwealth Games 2014, Helen and partner Sophie Thornhill claimed an impressive two gold medals: one in the kilo and one in sprint. She and Sophie also became world champion in the kilo and sprints event at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships.
You can follow the GB Paralympic athletes on hashtag #MMUatRio and follow our Rio campaign at#morethanmedals.
You can watch further events in the Paralympics here http://paralympics.channel4.com/news/how-watch-the-2016-paralympic-games-with-channel/
Featured image and gallery: Truck Festival For almost thirty years, set within the rolling fields of Hill Farm in Steventon, Oxfordshire, Truck Festival has been a cornerstone of the British festival calendar. Dubbed the ‘godfather of the UK’s small festival scene’, the festival continues to live up to that title, with a line-up packed with…
Featured image: American Football – American Football album artwork The debut album has long been treated as a baptism of fire for artists – the deciding factor that determines whether a band will ‘make it’ or not. Some debuts set the tone for what follows: Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m…
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra come to the Palace Theatre in Manchester to celebrate the release of their new album, Night Blooms. Liverpool-based Brooke Combe opens the evening with a stripped-back set alongside her guitarist, her soulful vocals instantly captivating the crowd. Blending heartfelt performances with quick-witted…
Featured image and gallery: Sally Stretch Three decades after they first emerged in Manchester, Take That return home to the Etihad Stadium and deliver an unforgettable show, combining circus theatrics and crowd-pleasing hits from across their catalogue. Formed in 1990, the group have released multiple chart-topping albums and embarked on numerous world tours, including 2009’s…
Leave a reply