GO GOLD Celebrates 10 Years

Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:00

The aim of GO GOLD is to support local talented athletes who are being recognised by their National Governing Bodies of Sport as being our future Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games participants.

The GO GOLD Funding Programme which supports talented athletes is celebrating 10 years, having supported over 500 athletes from across 66 different sports.

Key highlights of the programme include supporting rower and Olympic finalist Jonny Walton from Kirby Muxloe. Jonny finished 5^th in the Men's Double Scull at the Rio 2016 Olympics. In June Jonny won Gold in the Quadruple Sculls at the Rowing World Cup in Poland and was part of the team that won Silver at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in September.

Jonny has previously spoken about the support he received from GO GOLD:

"The support LRS' GO GOLD Funding Programme gave to me was invaluable in my development as an athlete giving me access to things to help me train, race and perform".

Emily Scarratt from Desford was part of the Women's World Cup winning England Rugby Team in 2014. Emily has gone on to captain Team GB's Women's Rugby 7's Team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. During the 2017 World Cup, Emily played a pivotal part as England progressed through to the final.

Other athletes supported over the last 10 years include:

Grace Garner (Blaby), road cyclist with Wiggle High5 Professional Cycling Team
Lucy Garner (Blaby), road cyclist for Wiggle High5 Professional Cycling Team and double Junior World Road Race Champion (2011 & 2012).
Megan Jones (North West Leicestershire) England 7s/15s Pro Rugby Player.
Lizzie Warner (Blaby), Archer for GB and Andrew Stamp, (Harborough), GB Trampoline Gymnast, selected for the Team GB Rio 2016 Ambition Programme.
Ben Dijkstra (Charnwood), GB Triathlete and 2 x Youth Olympic Triathlon Champion. Bronze Medalist in the ITU Triathlon Junior World Championships.
Lucy Hall (Harborough)London 2012 Team GB Olympic Triathlete.
Laura Samuel (Leicester City), Triple Jumper, 5 x British Champion and Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist (2014).
Dan McLay (Charnwood) professional cyclist for Fortuneo-Vital Concept who finished third on Stage Six of the Tour De France. Dan was the first county rider to race at the Tour de France and had four top 10 finishes throughout the event (2016).