OLYMPIC LEGACY
scheme. The cash is providing bursaries for talented young athletes, helping them purchase kit, visit physiotherapists, travel to compete in events and book accommodation. Ten athletes were beneficiaries of the bursary in year one. The council matched the Australian Olympics Committee’s funding in year two when a further five joined the programme. In year three, the number of recipients was whittled down to five, in order to focus on those considered to have the best chance of qualifying for Rio. According to Joyce Guthrie, head of parks and leisure at Waltham Forest Council, the athletes are now approaching the required level to compete at Brazil’s Games. Chingford’s Ryan Nicholls is one of the borough’s biggest hopes. In 2013 and 2014, Nicholls won the national Sainsbury’s School Games Paralympics gold medal for 100m backstroke. In 2014, 1,600 athletes from around the country took part in the event, where Nicholls also won the 100m freestyle gold and 200m medley silver. He is now in the final stages of training for the Olympics and will compete at the British Para-Swimming Internationals in April. Nicholls seems confident of qualifying for Rio, paying tribute to the coaching, facilities and physiotherapy the bursary has allowed him to access. The Olympics are now on his mind: “It has been my ambition to compete for Great Britain at such an amazing event. I have worked hard over the past three years and I hope I can make my country, coach and family proud.” Sprinter Reece Prescod, who recently secured sponsorship with Nike, is another big hope. He tells Invest Waltham
TO PREPARE FOR THE OLYMPIC TRIALS, I'M GOING TO PHOENIX Forest how the bursary has helped him work towards his goal. “Without this bursary I wouldn’t be where I am now. I’ve worked with some brilliant coaches and the bursary has helped me access specialist clinics, paid for my membership at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre and allowed me to travel to Qatar to train at the Aspire Academy, which is probably the most amazing sports facility I’ve ever been to. “To prepare for the Olympic trials in June, I’m going to Phoenix, Arizona and I’ll have the chance to meet with top athletes. Getting advice from people at the top of their game really helps. Three years ago, I was running 200 metres at 23.1 seconds, and I’ve managed to reduce that to 20.7. I don’t know if that would have been possible without the help I have received.” Other aspiring Olympians who are recipients include sprinter Corinne Humphreys and shot put specialists Anthony Oshodi and Youcef Zatat. Council investment into leisure centres encourages the borough’s residents to keep healthy and active and plays
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