News | Monday, 5th December 2016

Paralympic heroes shortlisted for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Student Kadeena Cox and honorary graduate Dame Sarah Storey in contention

Student Kadeena Cox has been shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Credit: OnEdition

TWO stars of this year’s Paralympic games and Manchester Metropolitan sport heroes have been shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016 award.

Gold medallist and University student Kadeena Cox is on the prestigious list alongside Dame Sarah Storey, who is an honorary graduate and trains at the University.

Both had successful Paralympic games in Rio this summer with Dame Sarah Storey becoming GB Paralympics’ most decorated female athlete.

MMU Sport Scholar Kadeena Cox made her Paralympic debut this year and achieved four medals across two sports – cycling and athletics – later becoming the flag bearer for the closing ceremony.

They feature alongside Real Madrid FC player Gareth Bale, tennis star Andy Murray and a host of Olympic medallists. The winner will be announced at a live vote on December 16.

Neil Hurren, Strategic Lead for Sport at Manchester Metropolitan, said: “We are thrilled that both Kadeena and Dame Sarah have been nominated for these awards. For us, they represent the true grit, dedication and passion for excellence that we really value in our athletes. While there can only be one winner, they are both victors with everything they have already achieved.”

Physiotherapy student Kadeena, a Manchester Metropolitan Sport Scholar, is the first Briton in 28 years to win medals in two sports at one Games and the first in 32 years to secure golds in two sports at the same Paralympics.

Dame Sarah Storey won two Paralympic cycling golds to take her career gold medal total across swimming and cycling to 14, a record for a female GB Paralympic athlete. The University supports Dame Sarah’s training at its sport science laboratories on the Cheshire campus.

Last year, MMU Sport Scholar and paraswimmer Tully Kearney made the top three in the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year awards.

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