KC ACADEMY MEMBERS
KADEENA COX
Academy founder and Paralympic and World Champion Kadeena is a trailblazer both on and off the bike. In Rio Kadeena became the first person for 32 years to win 2 gold medals in 2 different sports at a Paralympic Games; winning the T38 athletics 400m and C4 cycling 500m time trial setting new world records in both. Her time in cycling was faster than any Team GB able-bodied rider has ridden at an Olympic or Paralympic Games; not bad for somebody that ‘only got on a bicycle as a form of rehab’ 18 months earlier. She followed that up with 2 more emotional gold medals in the velodrome at Tokyo 2020 as she continues to blaze a trail on 2 wheels. In 2022 Kadeena also retained her World Champion title at the Para-Cycling World Championships.
Kadeena is now focused on Paris 2024 where she hopes to repeat the successes from Rio and Tokyo and on driving equality and diversity across communities and sports.
RHIANNA PARRIS-SMITH
Rhianna has already been on an impressive journey. Her achievements become even more astounding when you consider that she had only been in the sport for a year when she placed 4th in the 500m individual time trial and 5th in the sprint at the National Youth and Junior Track Cycling Championships in 2019, her first national level competition.
In 2022 Rhianna was invited for a 6-month trial with British Cycling, whilst still at university. Only 4 months into the trial she was offered a full-time place on the squad. Rhianna then competed in her first international race for GB finishing 4th in two disciplines.
SAM RUDDOCK
Sam is multi-talented and, like Kadeena, has represented both British Cycling and British Athletics. He is the British Record holder for the F35 Shot Put (athletics) and the C1 KM Time Trial (track cycling).
As well as being an inspiration on the bike, Sam is a game changer off it. He has a role as an Athlete Mentor for the Youth Sports Trust where he works in schools to encourage pupils to use the values and lessons learnt through sport, to better their academic performance.
His focus at present is all about improvement as he looks to build on his track and gym PBs and his long-term goal is to make the GB team for Paris. Things are heading in the right direction for this as in 2022 Sam moved from Foundation Level to Podium Potential at British Cycling. In 2022 Sam also won his first National and World titles on the track.
TYRESE PARRIS-SMITH
Cycling is something Tyrese has always enjoyed but has now embarked on a new journey after switching from his previous sporting involvements in football and athletics. He carries out his studies at Goldsmiths University alongside, training for future track cycling events, aiming to become an Olympian alongside his sister, Rhianna, in the future. Since joining the KC Academy in 2022, Tyrese has been focusing on building up his stamina and powers on a bike and has been completing his Track Cycling Accreditation Levels 1 and 2.
HARRISON FAY
Harrison started cycling at the age of 3 with a running bike. Cycling has been part of his life ever since then. At 13 he started competing on the track attaining regional level. Harrison was small for his age and left the sport for a while. His passion for cycling stayed with him and his return to the track marked a growth in strength, performance and results. In 2022 Harrison discovered that he has more of a sprint at the end of the endurance events than had previously released and therefore looks forward to taking this further in omnium and madison events.
In terms of personal progression, in 2022 Harrison completed his A Levels and has now started a degree at Cardiff University, a university with proximity to a velodrome and outdoor track, which were essential in his decision-making process.
JOSHUA HEMMINGS
Joshua has a background in fencing which he competed in at a national and international level in 2019 and 2020. He discovered his love for cycling from there and then worked hard to try and maximise his obvious potential.
In 2021 he started his first season as a road cyclist where he achieved several podiums and plenty of top 10 finishes. Not put off by the cold he continued his success into the winter with multiple cyclocross podiums. As a junior, his focus is on the longer road races (over 80km). Longer term goals include winning a road race and ultimately becoming the national road champion.
In 2022, the first half of the season was full of good results for Josh as he did not finish outside the top 15 through March and April. Whilst Josh initially struggled as he switched to the National Road Series, he had the opportunity to ride one of the biggest UK races, the Rutland Cycle Classic Junior. In September Josh restarted Cyclo-Cross where he finished 1st, 3rd, 4th and 7th.
