Local Athlete Profiles: Special Olympics National Games

Posted: Thu, 10 Aug 2017 09:00

Local Athlete Profiles: Special Olympics National Games

The event will take place in the city of Sheffield between 7 – 12 August 2017.

This is the country's largest multi-sports event for athletes with intellectual disabilities to be held in 2017.

A squad of 75 ATHLETES will be representing the EAST MIDLANDS region at the Special Olympics NATIONAL GAMES in Sheffield between the 7th and the 12th August 2017.

Leicestershire Athlete Profiles:

Matthew Chilvers (pictured)

Age: 21 | Sport: Tennis

Lives: Harborough District | Trains & Plays at: Desford Lawn Tennis Club and West Bridgford Tennis

Plays: Singles and Doubles

Previous experience: National Games, Bath 2013 and European Tennis Championships, Luxembourg 2013.

What is your greatest accomplishment? "Winning a gold medal at the Special Olympics European Tennis Championships in 2013 at Luxembourg"

What is your favourite thing about sport? "It has made me more confident. I have been playing since I was 5 years old and I have loved it ever since."

Ben Arthur

Age: 22 | Sport: Athletics, 100m, 200m, 400m

Region: East Midlands | District: Harborough

Trains at: Saffron Lane Athletics Stadium

Previous experience: Competing at many Regional events from the age of 16 and the National Games in Bath 2013

What is your greatest accomplishment? Winning a Silver medal in the 100m at the National Games in Bath

What is your favourite thing about sport? Making lots of friends and being part of the team.

Lee Penfold

Age: 35 | Sport: Basketball

Region: East Midlands | District: Hinckley

Trains at: Ellesmere College

Previous experience: National Games and World games

What is your greatest accomplishment? "Attending 4 National Summer games and 2 world games for Special Olympics GB won 10 Gold medals/9 silver and 5 Bronze"

What is your favourite thing about sport? "I enjoy meeting people and playing against other teams around great Britain and aboard. I'm an ambassador for Special Olympics I'm very proud to be a role model"

Lucie Jeffs

Age: 24 | Sport: Motor Activity Training Programme

Region: East Midlands | Lives: Harborough

Trains at: Leicester College

What is your greatest accomplishment? To be selected to attend the National Games in August and my family coming to watch me

What is your favourite thing about sport? I enjoy meeting people and the atmosphere and all the cheering and everyone waving

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