Rookwood to London 2012

Neil Smith is the DSW Head Coach at our Cycling Academy, having taught Para-Cyclist Mark Colbourne to ride a bike again following his accident in 2009, this summer he saw Mark win two silver medals and  gold in the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Neil shares with us, what has been an incredible three years for both Mark and Neil.
 
Mark standing on the top step of the podium in London receiving his gold medal was a very special day for me and the culmination of a 3-year journey!

I remember very clearly that morning in 2009 when Mark first walked into the Wales National Velodrome on a pair of crutches, he was actually still a patient at Rookwood hospital and had come over to meet and discuss what opportunities where available to him in this new world of Paralympic Performance Sport.


Neil with Mark after winning
 his first medal

 A few weeks later he arrived for his first session on what have now become the legendary “stabalisers”, which allowed him to ride in a safe environment and regain his balance, whilst permitting me to fully assess his abilities. It didn’t take many weeks before he was riding solo again and we progressed onto the track for the real technical work to begin.

 We set a target for Mark to compete for the first time at the Grand Prix of Wales the following May and on his debut at the event he took Gold in both the time trial and pursuit, whilst also taking the British Record for his classification.
 

Although this was a great foundation stone there was still quite a bridge gap to a Paralympic performance level and with London fast approaching the training during the coming winter was going to be crucial if London was to become a reality, although at this stage Mark was more concerned about making Rio in 2016.

 With Mark’s disability training in cold conditions isn’t optimum, so when a friend offered him an opportunity to spend the winter in warmer climes it was something he jumped at, although coaching someone 1000+ miles away may have its challenges, thankfully with todays technologies we where able to keep in regular contact, exchanging training data and video clips.

Mark had his very own chase car

On his return to Wales in 2011, we both knew we had to find a reference event for Mark to demonstrate to Team GB the hard work he had put in over the winter and a Time Trial in Doncaster worked perfectly.

Contacting the GB Paracycling Team with the results in hand, we managed to gain agreement for FDSW to support Mark as a GB “guest rider” in Switzerland and Spain in the coming weeks, the later event seeing Mark take his first medal in a GB jersey and book his place at the 2011 World Championships where he took a silver in the time trial. The year ending with Mark becoming a full member of team GB and a move to Manchester.

 

Neil was a commentator at the Paralympic
Games for Channel 4.

Preparations going into London got underway with a great start at the 2012 Track World Championships where he became both World Champion in the pursuit and taking silver in the TT. Whilst on the road he continued to pick up medals with Silvers medals at the World Cup events in Spain and Italy.
 
So when London arrived there was great expectation both on the track and road, which Mark lived up to taking a Gold and Silver on the track and a final silver at a very hilly Brands Hatch in the time trial.

It’s a privilege for me to have joined Mark on his remarkable journey from Rookwood Hospital to London 2012!

 

 

 

Billy Pye: Sport Wales Coach of the Year 2012

 

Newly crowned Sport Wales Coach of the Year 2012, Billy Pye, started his career as a coach in local Bridgend swimming club, this year Billy saw his swimmers return from the London 2012 Paralympic Games with 11 medals in tow, including two golds and two world records.

 

 I first got involved in coaching, as a Head Coach at Cynffig Swimming club in Bridgend, then I moved on to Assistant Head coach at Bridgend County Swim Squad, this was followed by becoming Head Coach at the same club. In 2003 I made the move to my current role as Head Coach at British disability Swimming, based in the Swansea High Performance Centre.

 

Pye is Sport Wales Coach of
the Year 2012

Being a coach doesn’t come easy and if I was to give one piece of advice to aspiring coaches, it would to, ‘be patient with swimmers, take advice from your peers, be a good listener and a great motivator’.

 

The London 2012 Paralympics games have had such an impact on not just the general public’s perception of disability sport but sport in general. I truly believe that we will have a lasting legacy with young people getting involved in sport.

                                                                                                                         

There isn’t much rest following London, my next focus is going to be the World Championships in Canada in August 2013. For 2014-2015, I am going to be focussing on the World and European Championships, and the 2014 Commonwealth games in Glasgow. Then obviously my long term aim is going to the next Paralympic games in Rio 2016.

Follow Billy on Twitter @Billypye2012

11 Days of Pure Gold

As the curtain falls on the London 2012 Paralympic Games, our Executive Director, Jon Morgan, shares with us the highs and lows of  the ‘greatest ever Paralympic Games’.

The 4.45pm train back from London to Swansea was an oasis of relative calm following 11 days of unbelievable sport in what surely is now regarded as the 'greatest ever Paralympic Games'.

There have been times over the past two weeks when I have wanted to climb to the top of the Orbit tower in Olympic Park and yell ’I told you so’ in reference to the sheer brilliance and remarkable theatre that is paralympic sport. Of course my urge to do this is now dampened given the way the Games has awakened a new generation to what paralympic sport is all about. There has been almost daily front page coverage on national newspapers, where previously paralympic sport has been consigned to a paragraph between the weather and the crossword, more than 1.3million tweets with the word ‘paralympic’ used and a demand for tickets that even the canniest of ticket touts couldn’t have satisfied.

Aled Sion Davies winnig his gold medal is
sure to be one of the highlights of the games.

My own emotions have swung violently during the Games from over-whelming joy, to at times, utter despair as we have followed the journeys of our athletes. There have been moments when I have wanted to scream ‘did you see that’ as an athlete has taken their performance to a new high, and other times when I have quietly thought to myself ‘I can’t believe this is happening!’ But that’s the thrill and unpredictability of high performance sport. If it were scripted it would be boring and in that sense the Paralympic Games are no different to any other competition.

From a performance perspective, the Games have been successful from both a British and a Welsh perspective. ParalympicsGB won 120 medals, 18 up on our total in Beijing. Our own Welsh athletes winning 15 medals, across more sports (athletics, swimming, table tennis and cycling) and with more individual medallists, 11, than in Beijing (8). True, ParalympicsGB did slip to third in the overall standings in the medal table but I view that as positive sign that competition is maturing – and anyway, I know we will bounce back in Rio!

Rhys Jones (centre) is one of the
athletes on the Road to Rio.

But in 4, 8 or 12 year’s time I suspect it won’t be the number or colour of the medals that we’ll remember. Medals and medal winners will only part of the London story. What will burn really bright in the memory of everyone who has been touched by these Games will be the remarkable performance of the athletes and the statement they have made about their individual ability. The tennis player who flicked his feet to serve the ball, the blind long jumpers that silenced an 80,000 seater Stadium so that you could hear the sound of their assistants clapping to help them stay on the runway or the Thai boccia player who mesmerised spectators with his level of skill, not to mention his memorable victory celebrations. These athletes and the many that have gone before, since the first Games way back in Stoke Mandeville 1948, have strived not only to be the best they could be, but also to ensure that their Games receive the recognition and respect that they so readily deserve. On this occasion I think they have achieved it.....

oh yeah.....and I did tell you!

 

Follow Jon Morgan on Twitter: @JonnyMogs

 

Wales plays host to Pre games training camps

With 14 nations choosing Wales as their base for pre-games training camps, Jon Morgan, Executive Director for Disability Sport Wales, shares with us the behind the scenes work that has gone in to securing these teams as well as ensuring they receive access to the best facilitates Wales has to offer and most importantly building a on a London 2012 legacy.

The Paralympic Games may be happening 158 miles away up the M4 in London but for fourteen of the competing nations all roads have initially led to South Wales.


First Minster, Carwyn Jones welcomed the
camps at a Paralympic reception.

For the past six years Welsh Government, in partnership with Disability Sport Wales and a range of partners including local authorities, facility and accommodation providers and transportation teams, have led a campaign to bring some of the World’s highest profile Paralympic teams to Wales for their pre-games training camps. The likes of Australia, New Zealand, China, Mexico and our very own British Cycling team have all chosen Wales for one of the most crucial elements of their build up to the 2012 Games. In making this decision they have all recognised Wales as a destination where they will not only be able to access world class facilities, but also receive world class services as well as the warmest of Welsh welcomes.

Behind the scenes an enormous operation has been taking place to ensure that Wales has been able to deliver all of the necessary services which are required to meet the very high standards and expectations of our visitors. Services including meet and greets for arrivals and departures, accessible transportation and accommodation, equipment and logistics, catering, sports science and medical services, volunteer deployments and of course access to high performance sports facilities have all been needed to ensure that Teams not only enjoy a successful pre-games camp but also that they leave Wales in the knowledge that we have delivered on our commitments.



Mexico and NZ who are both based in Swansea,
 have been training at Wales National Pool.

Of course whilst pre-games camps primarily focus on those all important final preparations for the athletes, there are so many other benefits that they bring to Wales. Incoming Teams provide a timely and welcome boost to the local economy – in this case nearly 600 athletes staying for up to three weeks in some cases, - that’s an awful lot of ‘bed-nights’, buses and meals! The camps also provide for cultural opportunities through community engagement, an aspect of the 2012 programme that has already gone particularly well with many children, young people and sports clubs already having been inspired by these world class athletes.



Legacy hasn’t been forgotten either. Whilst Welsh Government are hoping for return visits by some of these Teams for future pre-Games camps e.g. International Paralympic World Athletics Championships Lyon 2013 / Commonwealth Games 2014 etc here at Disability Sport Wales we have been building up links with the Australian and New Zealand Paralympic Committees, working together on areas of common interest and development. We are also supporting other nations such as India, Liberia, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands and are keen to assist them in the further development of Paralympic and disability sport in any way we can.

Austrailia who are based in Cardiff,
 attended the unveiling of the Agitos at
 City Hall, Cardiff.

In just a few days time a six year project will draw to a close when we bid a very fond farewell to our overseas guests. We can be satisfied that Wales has once again lived up to its reputation as a passionate and committed country when it comes to Paralympic sport. We can also feel proud that in our own Welsh way we have made a huge contribution to what will surely be the greatest Paralympic Games of the modern era by hosting 14% of all the athletes that will compete.

The Teams have contributed so much to our own pre-Paralympic party and we thank them for their warmth, friendliness, energy and spirit. They are all worthy ambassadors of their countries and the Paralympic movement.

And as we wave them off to the Games, wishing them the very best of luck, I am sure that not one of them will begrudge us the opportunity to now turn our full attention and support to our own Greatest Team who will no doubt do us all proud come Games time.  Go ParalympicsGB!

 Follow Jon Morgan on Twitter. @JonnyMogs

Tracey Hinton: 6th Games

London will be Traceys’ sixth Paralympic games, at the age of 42, she has no signs of slowing down, in fact her times are getting quicker. With just 14 days to go until the Paralympics kick off, she recalls the moment she got the phone call she had been selected for London.

I was really nervous waiting for the phone call, I was in work, when the phone call came at 1.55pm, Peter Errikson rung me and said, ‘Congratulations Tracey you have been selected for the 100m and 200m’. Even though its my sixth games, the excitement is still the same.

Tracey with her guide runner Steffan

In reality I would like to medal in both events but a medal is a bonus and I am just thrilled to going to London. I am currently ranked 4^th in the world in the 200meteres and 5^th in the 100metres, as well as taking gold recently in the Europeans, so I have high hopes.

I’ve trained incredibly hard and I love training and competing and the buzz that comes with it, I hate not training, when I was injured last year for four months, I still trained everyday in the gym, being motivated doesn't come in to it, this is just my life

 I run with a guide runner called Steffan. We have known each other for 10 years and we have a great relationship, it’s important that we have a good relationship on and off the track. We have to work extremely hard to ensure we have the best technique possible. Steffen is my eyes, he guides me round the bends and keeps me in the correct lane.  Without Steffan, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have this year, his job doesn’t end of the track, he helps me in so many ways.

Follow Tracey on Twitter @TraceyHinton100 and her guide runner Steffan @SteffRhughes

Peter Errikson: UKA Paralympic Head Coach

Peter Errkison is UK Athletics Paralympic Head Coach. An undoubtedly successful Paralympic coach, he has coached athletes to win an incredible 119 medals at Paralympic Games since 1984. He shares with us his advice to athletes going in to the London Paralympic Games, the changes that have been implemented within the performance team, aswell as his thoughts on the DSW Academy and Performance structure.

For the younger and less experienced athletes going into London, I would advise them to be prepared, we have a good system with young and new athletes and the youngsters have somebody to look up to. Getting to a big games, like London for the first time, is a big shock. You have to go in there and do your best but at the same time you have got to have fun. If it becomes a panic situation, then you’re not having fun and you’re not going to want to do it again. 

There has been major change in performance in the run up to London, the most significant change being the culture of elitist sport; there is no excuse for not being well prepared. There is the same approach as the Olympics team, same coaching, and same expectations. It is an investment in medals and I have said from day one, we continue hammering away at it, the athletes that have been on the rewards programme disappearing even more so after 2012. The changing of the culture and training with Olympic athletes and Olympic coaches to see what it takes. Isolate yourself from the reality and the big world of elite sport doesn’t help you at all.

If I could  assist a first time athlete in the run up to London,  I would tell them, you can only do your best and then it is the question of being prepared, how well did they prepare and that will be the outcome of how well you do.

As for the Disability Sport Wales Programme, it is evident that is it the programme that is the most functional, from the academy team to the national team and its coaching. If you look from the perspective of a programme, that is the programme.

Finally my three key pieces of advice to any athlete is, have fun, do your best and never give up.

Follow Disability Sport Wales on Twitter @dsw_news

Anthony Hughes: London 2012

Anthony Hughes, has been the National Performance Manager for Disability Sport Wales for 14 years, he will be one of the lead UK Athletics throws coaches in London as part of the ParalympicsGB team. With 38 Welsh athletes in London he is sure to feel at home.


My key responsibility at the Games is to work alongside the Welsh athletes based in the ParalympicsGB athletics team, some of whom I coach in a variety of throws events. Having said that I am also keen to ensure that I offer any support that is needed for  any of the Welsh members of the GB Team.  I have no doubt that as far as our  first time Welsh paralympians are concerned London 2012 will be an incredible  experience for them, and in some cases it may be overwhelming.


Anthony Hughes won Coach of the Year in 2011

There will be a huge expectation and pressure on the shoulders of our young competitors. Given my experience over many Games  I feel that I will be able to manage and support the ambitions of my own athletes as well as assisting other Welsh athletes from other sports. Sometimes a friendly face at Games time can make all the difference. Keeping pressures at bay such as the media and other Games distractions is critical if we are to ensure that the athletes can focus on their performance . We are here to provide a support network both inside and outside of the games; this has been paramount to our success in the past.


This will be my sixth Paralympic games, with varying degrees of responsibility from athlete to performance manager, and now to personal coach to some of our Welsh athletes. This will also be my first games based in the athletes village as a member of the ParalympicsGB staff. Being part of the GB staffing team is a honour indeed.


When I competed in Barcelona, in 1992, it was all about my own expectations and performance. Now, in London, it will be about ensuring that the things that  just didn’t go right for me in Barcelona, don’t reoccur for our young squad. This will be about ensuring we deflect as much pressure and external expectation as is possible. It is an immense honour to be linked to such incredible talent. Wales has a proud reputation in Paralympic sport and I totally believe that our young competitors will make amazing history in London.



Follow Anthony’s journey through London via @dsw_news