01.09.2005

Local student, David Stone, who is coached by Dr Gary Brickley, Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton, is celebrating after taking gold medals in both the 24.6km road race and the 8.2km time trial at the European Paralympic Cycling Championships.

David has been coached by Gary since 1999 and is now on the fast track talented athlete 2012 scheme at the university which gives him access to university sports squads, equipment and coaches as well as financial assistance.  

"When I started work with David his maximal cycling power output was around 200 watts and this has now improved to 350 watts which is like going from a rusty old mini to a high performance BMW," said Gary. "The state of the art facilities at the university, such as fitness tests using blood and markers of the air David breathes out, have helped contribute to his performance."

"David is extremely hard working and regularly puts in 10 to 15 hours training in a typical week. He is a dedicated individual and it's great to see that his hard work has resulted in such success. The European Championships are incredibly competitive and David will be looking to go to the 2008 Beijing paralympics as a favorite. He is bright, witty and very talented and there is still more to come from David."

Previously, David has won Gold Medals in the Cerebral Palsy games in New York and is now crowned the King of Europe on a tricycle. David can ride on two wheels, but in Holland he rode on three (as pictured above) and beat Mark LeFlohic, the Paralympic champion from Australia.

Thanks to www.britishcycling.org.uk for the photograph of David Stone.

Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022