Melissa Reid
and her
Olympic Ambition

In three years time, you could well hear the name Melissa Reid as a Great Britain Olympic medallist at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Paralympic Games!

It will not be lack of determination or ability that will prevent this goal, but possibly a lack of finance.

Melissa Reid, from Cornwall, has already had the taste of a podium! In August 2011, together with her guide, Alice Nicholas, Melissa acheived a silver medal in the Dextra ITU Triathlon World Championship in Hyde Park, London.

The amazing thing was, the girls had only three weeks training together prior to the event. The silver medal position was only possible with the generosity and support of Cycle Logic of Helston, who supplied a tandem and technical knowledge.

This enabled the pair to unlock some of their potential which could well lead them to Paralympic success.

Since then, Melissa, who is visually impaired, has achieved incredible success. Other achievements have included:-

• 2nd - European Championships, Israel | April 2012
• 1st - British Championships, Nottingham | May 2012
• 2nd - ITU World Para-Triathlon Champs, Auckland NZ | October 2012
• 1st - ITU Aquathon World Championships, Auckland NZ | October 2012
• 2nd – ITU World Para-Triathlon Championships, Auckland, NZ | October 2012
• 1st – British Elite Duathlon Championships, Leicester, UK | March 2013
• 1st – ETU European Championships, Alanya, Turkey | June 2013
• 1st – British Paratriathlon Championships, Liverpool, UK | July 2013

As Melissa says, 'If all goes well, I will have a chance to represent Great Britain at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio De Janeiro'.

Another amazing fact is that Melissa and Alice achieved their World Championship success on a touring tandem.

Thanks to Matrix Cycles and Cycle Logic, Melissa finally has a carbon race tandem.

Melissa has been involved in coaching from a young age and now, in what spare time she has, Melissa continues to coach and teach at a number of places.

She is the Junior coach at Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving and Triathlon Club and work for SLSGB as a Junior Lifesaving Coach.

This has now been recognised by her being awarded the 2012 Cornwall Young Coach of the Year (U25).

After attending the Great Britain Trials in November 2011 at Loughborough University, Melissa was delighted to have been selected to represent Great Britain in the Affiliation Squad.

This is her first step on the road to become a Paralympian. This announcement has attracted a lot of media attention, with Radio features on BBC Radio Cornwall and Pirate FM and countless mentions in local press.

Over the next three years in the run up to the 2016 Olympics, Melissa and Alice will have to lay a foundation of solid training and competition.

This will include the Dextra ITU World Championship Series comprising of eight rounds, and involving a great deal of expense!

This will only be possible with help of financial support.

If you or your business feel you could help future Olympians please
visit the website of Melissa Reid!

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