Cycling Athlete Sandra O’Keefe
The Welsh Squad
Location: Cardiff
Coach: Hilary Holtam
Sandra is 46 years old. She has only been cycling for 4 years and has achieved amazing things in that time. In 2003 she rode a bike for the first time. She discovered a talent and love of the sport. Two years later she won a gold medal in the SOGB national games in Glasgow.
Coach Hilary says: “Sandra is extremely motivated to improve her own performance. She discovered the sport through a learning disability cycling project and she’s gone from strength to strength. Her gold medal in the Glasgow games made her even more determined to push herself further.”
At the national games Sandra was the only woman cyclist from Wales and she felt a great pride in bringing back the only gold medal in the Welsh squad.
Head coach Tom A’Hara says: “There are very few female cyclists in Special Olympics. Sandra was one of only two who were entered for the last SOGB national games in Glasgow, so she competed against male cyclists. She is extraordinary”
Sandra trains with the other Welsh squad members, Bikhu Patel and Andrew Holdham, once a week. She cycles with a number of other clubs as well as Special Olympics. She is ambitious to achieve more.
As well as her learning disabilities Sandra battles with a persistent knee problem. But nothing stops her.
Coach Hilary says: “Sandra is so determined to push her limits she often won’t say when she’s in pain.”
In Shanghai Sandra will compete in the 500m, 1km and 5km. As well as her cycle training she keeps up her fitness levels with a lot of walking.
Head coach Tom says: “The 5km race is the longest race Sandra has done so in training she is working at pacing herself over the distance. It will be approximately 25 minutes of cycling and requires a lot of stamina. “
Sandra lives independently and has huge support from her twin sister Sally. She has worked previously in administration jobs but is thrilled to have just secured a job at a restaurant.
TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ATHLETES OR COACHES, PLEASE CONTACT THE SOGB NATIONAL OFFICE.
TELEPHONE: 020 7696 5569 OR EMAIL TO: pr@sogb.org.uk