This summer is showing a variety of sporting championships including Wimbledon, the Athletics and Para Athletics World Championships and the Deaflympics. We’re proud to announce a huge number of GSF supported athletes have been selected and are already competing in these world class events.
Lucy Shuker (GSF ambassador in Taunton) begins her Wimbledon Championship campaign today, playing world no. 1 Yui Kamiji of Japan in the wheelchair ladies singles. Although Lucy is up against the world number one she is feeling confident and knows upsets can happen!
British no. 1 and world no. 7 Shuker, who trained at the GLL Blackbrook Tennis Centre in Taunton is set for her ninth Wimbledon, having reached the singles final and won the ladies doubles (with Diede de Groot) at last week’s Surbiton Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. Shuker and Sabine Ellerbrock (Germany) face Dutch pair De Groot and Marjolein Buis in the ladies doubles.
Next up is the European U23 Athletics Championships which sees eight GSF supported athletes compete. Many of these athletes competed at the British Trials a couple of weekends ago and were very close to obtaining the qualifying standards for the World Championships. Good luck to Reuben Arthur (100m), Khai Riley-La Borde (110m Hurdles), Jacob Paul (400m Hurdles), Imani Lansiquot (100m), Laviai Nielsen (400m), Amy Holder (Discus), Lina Nielsen (4x400m Relay) and Cheriece Hylton (4x400m Relay). We’re sure we’ll be seeing some of these athletes at the next senior World Championships.
Just after this, the European Junior Athletics Championships take place in Italy, July 20-23. This is a great chance for young up and coming athletes to show what they can do against international athletes, and no doubt most of them will move up to the U23 championships next year. There are five GSF supported athletes competing out in Italy; Robert Sakala (110m Hurdles), Sam Talbot (Combined Events), Maya Bruney (200m), Orla Brothers (400m Hurdles) and Divine Oladipo (Shot and Discus). We wish these athletes the best of luck competing for junior Team GB!
The Deaflympics are taking place in Turkey, starting on the 18th of July. The GLL Sport Foundation is supporting athletes from a few different sports including swimming, athletics and football. Bethan Lishman (Athletics – Throws) has been training for the Deaflympics for the past few years and supported by the foundation. We’re delighted that all her hard work has paid off and she can finally put her throwing into practice against the best in the world. Swimmers Tom Baxter and Jasmine Seamarks are competing in the swimming, and Nicholas Gregory, Matt Byfield and Philip Swift are all in the GB Deaf Football Squad. As more sports announce their GB squads we’re hoping there will be more GSF athletes competing. Best of luck!
The Athletics and Para Athletics World Championships are being hosted by London on the 2012 Olympic Stadium Track. Great Britain are very excited for a home games and the GLL Sport Foundation are supporting a number of athletes competing. Starting on the 14th of July, the Para Athletics Championships sees six GSF supported athletes compete. For Team GB Aled Davies (F42 Discus), Carly Tait (T34 100, 400m, 800m), Vanessa Wallace (Seated Throw), Jordan Howe (T35 100m), for Ireland Michael McKillop (T38 800m) and competing for Portugal, Carolina Duarte (T13 100m). Good luck to all out athletes.
Finally, the Athletics World Championships sees 12 GSF athletes compete for Team GB. Good luck to Reece Prescod (100m), James Dasaolu (100m), Dwayne Cowan (400m), Nathan Fox (Triple Jump), Daryll Neita (100m), Bianca Williams (200m), Dina Asher-Smith (200m), Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (800m), Adelle Tracey (800m), Jade Lally (Discus), Laviai Nielsen (4x400m Relay) and Perri Shakes-Drayton (4x400m Relay). We’re very excited for the games to begin!
England topped the medal table at the Commonwealth Youth Games with nine GSF supported athletes competing out in the Bahamas. Well done to Tom Dean (Swimming), Vera Chinedu (Athletics), Chad Miller (Athletics), Anna Burt (Athletics), Pippa Earley (Athletics), Charles Frankham (Boxing), Joaquin Bello (Volleyball) and Javier Bello (Volleyball).
The GB U18 Basketball squads have also been announced with three GSF supported athletes being selected. Hosana Kitenge, Joshua Ogundele and Jade Blackburn.
ATHLETES – please keep us up to date with your results! As you can see, there’s a lot going on so it’s difficult to track all results. Any engagement with us is much appreciated!
