Biography


My story…

I have had Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and Asthma since birth. I have attended Gateshead Kestrels since the age of 7 where I started swimming. At the age of 9 I had my first taste of competition at the DSE National Short course.  This gave me the incentive I needed to continue swimming and to move into other sports.

I was encouraged to pursue Athletics by Kestrels who arranged for me to join Gateshead Harriers. Once I started competing at Athletics I knew this was the sport for me. I still swim and compete at the DSE Short course every year but on the whole my swimming is extra training to help develop my co ordination and upper body strength for my Athletics.

My Athletics really started to take shape when I was allowed to attend the DSE National Athletics championships when I was 10 as a guest and managed to win my events. The fact that I can win something drives me to succeed even further.

Since then I have continued to compete at DSE events, CP Sport Grand Prix events as well as putting myself up against able bodied athletes to improve my performance.

In 2015 I was selected to represent  England in the CPISRA World Games in Nottingham. I won 4  Gold medals in 100m. 200m. long jump and was part of the 4 x100m Ladies relay team. I also won a Silver medal in shot put . In September 2015 I represented England North East Region at the Sainsburys School ames in Manchester winning a  Silver medal in shot put again.

In September 2016 Emily was once again selected to represent England North East Region at The School Games at Loughbourough University. Emily won a gold medal in shot put and won a silver medal in the 200m.

In 2017, Emily was once again selected to represent Team North East Region at the School Games in Loughbourough.Emily once again win the Gold medal in Shot Put and also won a Bronze Medal again in the 200m.

In 2018 Emily was very kindly asked by British Athletics to compete at The Olympic Stadium in London at The Anniversay games. Emily competed in the T37/38 Womens 200m. Emily finished in a very respectable 4th position against seasoned Paralympic athletes in front of 27 000 people on a day as a family we will never forget.

2018 has also been a year that Emily was once again picked to compete to represent Team England  in the CPISRA World Games in Sant Cugat near Barcelona. Emily came away as the CPISRA World Champion in the T38/F38  100m. 200m. long jump. shot put and the discus. an amazing achievement in very hot conditions in her first international competition.

To finish Emilys 2018 outdoor season off. Emily was selected to represent Team North East in the School Games for the last time ( due to age restrictions). Once again Emily didn’t disappoint, winning the Shot put Gold medal for the 3rd  year running and winning a Bronze medal in the Long Jump.

In mid September Emily received a runners up certificate in the England Athletics Volenteering Awards as recognition of the work that Emily does when she isn’t training or competing.

In late November 2018, Emily received news that she had been invited by British Athletics to be a part of the British Athletics Paralympic Development Acadamy for 2019. A great achievement.

Emily has continued to be a member of the British Athletics Paralympic Development Academy.

In May 2021 Emily received the news from British Athletics that she had been selected to represent Team GB for her senior International debut. Emily competed in the women’s F38 discus competition at the European Para Championships in Bydgoszcz in Poland.

We are delighted to say Emily got Team GBs Para Championships off to a excellent start by winning a Bronze Medal on her debut.
in November 2021 we received news that Emily has been selected to join British Athletics Paralympic Futures Acadamy. Another step in the right direction.

In early June 2022 was invited to take part in a Para Grand Prix meeting in Paris. Emily took part in the ambulant woman’s discus competition finishing a very creditable 6th from 14 seasoned fellow Para athletics from around the globe.

 

Emilys ultimate ambition is to be selected for the Paralympics.