PEDAL TO THE MEDAL
Ashley is going for gold
A multi-talented Rutherglen woman is aiming to cycle her way to gold at the Special Olympics GB Anniversary Games — just a year after winning three medals in basketball.
Ashley McCloy will be flying the flag for Scotland in her home nation this time around at the event in Stirling from August 9.
The 25 year-old, who has special needs, secured three medals including a gold, at the Special Olympics GB National Games in Sheffield last year as part of the Glasgow Eagles team.
She has now turned her attention to cycling thanks to the encouragement of her coaches, and will be one of the 1,200 athletes to descend on the University of Stirling this summer.
The event will also celebrate the 40th birthday of Special Olympics GB and the 50 years since the founding of the worldwide movement.
And Ashley’s proud mum Michelle is confident that her sports-mad daughter will rise to the occasion and get the best time trial in the road race events, which are split into different distances.
She said: “Her coaches think she has a real talent for cycling.
“They like to encourage the athletes to try different sports and then train them up.
“Ashley was in Sheffield for the Special Olympics last year and won a gold, silver and a bronze for basketball so she did really well. Now she is training at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow and she’ll need to cycle around three miles.
“She’ll follow the routes and her coaches will cycle with her. “She is really looking forward to it.” Ashley suffers from epilepsy, arthritis and spinal problems which restricted her movements from a young age.
She attended a special needs school in Blantyre which supported her particular educational requirements resulting from her learning difficulties.
But since leaving school, the Mill Court resident has used sport as a way of meeting and communicating with new people.
Michelle explained: “She is 25 years-old but she has the mind of a teenager just because of the lack of oxygen in the brain.
“She suffers from anxiety which means she can struggle to get out and about on her own.
“But sport helps her connect with people. Cycling and activities give her more confidence. She also likes to line dance and play basketball.”
The Special Olympics GB provide sports training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in England, Scotland and Wales.
This year’s event will see athletes compete in boccia, badminton, table tennis, football, swimming, athletics, cycling, golf and netball.
However, as the events are self funded, Ashley is in need of sponsors.
If all goes well, the Rutherglen sports star has also got an eye on making the World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi 2019, if she raises enough money to fund her trip.
For sponsorship enquiries, contact Michelle on 07729619066.