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 2021 Kadeena's focus is on repeating that success in Tokyo and on driving equality and diversity across communities and sports.
ASH FACEY
Ash is an exciting talent with pedigree in elite sport. Having grown up playing table tennis from the age of 7 he reached his first Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016 and followed that up with another appearance at Tokyo 2020. During the coronavirus pandemic Ash turned his talent to cycling and his ability was obvious from the get go. He is currently working towards converting onto the British Cycling Paralympic program with the long term view of representing GB on the bike at Paris 2024.
RHIANNA PARRIS-SMITH
Rhianna has already been on an impressive journey. Her recent 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.
Off he bike Rhianna is studying Sports Coaching at the University of Derby, a course and university that not only allows her to pursue her cycling ambitions but develop her knowledge and passion for sport as a whole.
SAM RUDDOCK
Sam is multi-talented and, like Kadeena, represents 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).
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 . 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.
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 in the future.
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. His strengths lie in endurance events and we watch with excitement to see where he will go.
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 a number of 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) and his goals is to achieve a top 30 finish this year at the CiCle Classic. Longer term goals include winning a road race and ultimately becoming the national road champion.