News | Tuesday, 4th February 2020

Manchester Met’s para-cycling track world champions

University student and alumna win medals at this year’s competition

Sport and exercise science student Helen Scott has claimed a double world title at this year’s UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Canada.

Scott successfully defended her tandem sprint title on day three of the competition with her cycling partner Sophie Thornhill.

They beat Belgium 2-0 to take gold in the event as a pairing for the third successive year.

The duo were just shy of their own world record that they claimed last year.

Scott and Thornhill also defended their title in the 1,000m time trial event, winning with a time just three tenths of a second outside their own world record.

Dame Sarah Storey, honorary graduate of Manchester Metropolitan who has trained at the University’s sport science facilities, added three world titles to her collection from the competition.  

She won a gold medal in the individual pursuit, scratch race and omnium respectively.

She also won bronze in the 500m time trial.

After the event on Twitter, Storey said: “Busy two days riding omnium, scratch and individual pursuit. All three events were decided today, so it was pretty full on. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to win all three! The tactics paid off and the training backed me all the way home. Massive thanks to all those cheering.”

It was the 20th world championships of Storey’s career, taking her world title tally to 38.

Physiotherapy graduate Kadeena Cox won silver in the 500m time trial and silver with three of her teammates in the team sprint.