Kentish Express Ashford & District
Katie’s dreaming of Paris
Para dressage ace Katie Radzik has only one thing on her mind even if she’d rather not shout about it – the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The 32-year-old from Ashford has turned a childhood love into a thriving competitive career at international level, slowly but surely working her way up to a first Great Britain appearance in 2018.
And she has not looked back since, thriving and winning on the international stage at grade four – with bigger and bolder targets now the focus.
“My dream is to go to the Paralympics,” Radzik said.
“I don’t like to shout about it too much though – it’s always nice to keep your ambitions to yourself so you can surprise people.
“I’m concentrating on Paris 2024. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself though.”
Radzik, who has cerebral palsy ataxia as well as extreme shortterm memory loss, was hooked on riding from the second she was taken to a Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) group in Broadstairs, east Kent, aged three to help with her balance and co-ordination.
And when her auntie then decided to buy her a pony, any chance of her doing anything else with her life was quickly dismissed.
Supported by her biggest fan, her mum Stephanie, as well as her dad Richard and twin sister Chloe, Radzik has overcome every obstacle put in front of her to excel – gaining world-class selection and emerging victorious in team and individual events at international competitions such as Keysoe CPEDI last October.
And even the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic could not stop her.
“When Covid first hit no one was doing anything. I really missed competing because that’s what I do,” she added.
“But, it gave me a lot of time to focus on training and I always try to get a positive out of a negative.
“It was amazing to get back, I missed the atmosphere at competitions and getting out and seeing my friends in the different para grades.”
Radzik’s career in the saddle is fuelled by a partnership between Entain – owner of Ladbrokes and Coral – and SportsAid which provides vital funding for training, travel, equipment and access to mentoring.
The investment is supported by Baroness Tanni GreyThompson, while two other similarly decorated athletes have provided the inspiration behind her success.
“Sophie Wells – she’s an amazing rider and I aspire to ride like her, and I’ve had a few lessons from her,” Radzik said. “It really helped, I’ve been up to her in Lancashire and I love training with her.
“When I get the opportunity to do it, I grab it with both hands. There’s not many people that can say they have trained with a gold medallist.
“And then there’s Charlotte Dujardin too, she’s such a beautiful rider and I’ve always loved to watch her ride.”
Entain, owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, is proud to be championing the next generation of British sporting heroes by providing talented young athletes with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Visit entaingroup. com to find out more.