From London 2012 to Glasgow 2014

As we mark 500 days to go until the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, our Academy Manager, Gerwyn Owen reflects on the legacy from London as we continue to develop athletes ready for Glasgow 2014.

Six months on from the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and of course we miss that time, but re-focus we’ve had to do! Although for me it has never been just about London 2012.

When London was announced in 2005 as the host for the Olympic & Paralympic Games in 2012, the performance unit within Disability Sport Wales knew then full advantage had to be taken. On the back of a successful Paralympic Games in Sydney (2000) & Athens (2004) we knew we had a model to develop talented athletes to enable them to be selected for the Great Britain team.

 

Jordan Howe joined the DSW Academy
at 9 years old, he competed in his first
major games at London 2012

By simply adopting a talent process, namely the Academy in 2006, we set off on a journey not just to London but to 2016 and beyond. Over the years we have identified athletes as young as 9 years old, and gone on a journey with them. Early success was had in Beijing with 9 out of the 15 Welsh athletes from the academy programme making the ParalympicsGB team.

For London 2012 Paralympic Games my target was to introduce as many new Paralympians into the team from the Academy. Of the 38 Welsh athletes selected for ParalympicsGB, 19 were first time Paralympians, with 18 of them coming through the Academy programme. Additionally of the 38 athletes, 24 had received support and services directly from the Academy programme in the last 4 year Paralympic cycle.

For an athlete it’s all about ‘stepping stones’ – building up on training regimes, competitions and experience. Competitions are integral to the development of an athlete, and it’s heartening to see the Paralympic competition calendar continuing to evolve, with many more opportunities open to athletes than have been previously.

Gerwyn with London 2012 Gold and Bronze
medallist Aled Davies, who has his sights firmly
set on Glasgow 2014

Becoming stronger within the calendar is the Commonwealth Games, where the para-sport opportunity is growing by each Games. Manchester 2002 was the first Commonwealth games  to include Para-sport events, Wales have reaped the rewards with medals being obtained in each subsequent Games.

 

Follow Gerwyn on Twitter - @gerwynowen