WALES’ SUCCESS SECRETS REVEALED                  

Thirty-one sportsmen and women, 10 golds, three silvers, one bronze.Returning home with a 14-strong medal haul, Wales’ Paralympians are at the very top of their game when it comes to delivering sporting success.

Welsh athletes were responsible for almost 25% of the gold medal haul and, per capita, finished top of the medal table*.

On the eve of their homecoming to Wales, other nations are looking to Wales for clues on how to produce podium places. And Disability Sport Wales and Sports Council for Wales have today unveiled just some of the secrets of their success.

“A few years ago, Disability Sport in Wales was not the picture of health it is today,” explained Philip Carling – Chair of the Sports Council for Wales. “Yes, the likes of Tanni Grey Thompson, Chris Hallam and John Harries may have been world-beating trail-blazers but the systems were not in place to boost grassroots opportunities or to properly nurture talent.”

The contribution of the Welsh members to ParalympicsGB is significant. But it is the results of seeds sown in 2002.  

Mr Carling adds, “We made disability sport a clear priority and channelled Welsh Assembly Government funding into two strategic posts – an Executive Director and a National Performance Manager for Disability Sport Wales.”

Today, the duo of Jon Morgan, as Director, and Antony Hughes, as National Performance Manager, forms a strong alliance of smart thinking, technical know-how and a keen eye for talent identification. Their efforts are now bolstered by a strong team.

Next, the Sports Council directed its National Lottery budget into launching a nationwide Disability Sport Wales Community programme.

Jon Morgan of Disability Sport Wales said, “The investment into the Community programme is certainly paying off. In 2007-8, well over 300,000 opportunities were provided for people with disabilities in Wales to take part in sport.”

He adds, “Making a firm commitment to long-term support, the Sports Council’s decision allowed Disability Sport Wales to employ development officers within each local authority of Wales as well as a Community Manager to provide strategic direction.”

This now well-established set-up of officers embedded in each local authority is unparalleled internationally.

“More recently, an Academy has been launched. It is due to celebrate its second anniversary in October. It serves as a production line for emerging sportsmen and women – ensuring they have the right support to achieve their full potential.”

The Academy is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Sportsmatch Cymru scheme which match-funds the commercial sponsorship invested by Welsh company, Ace Feet in Motion.

It currently supports more than 80 young athletes through a tailor-made range of programmes and services. Though the set-up is in its infancy, success stories abound.

Take teenager Jenny McLoughlin of Chepstow - a 16-year-old sprinter who made her Paralympic debut in Beijing. She made a final as did so many of the 15 first-timers.

In addition, to the Welsh competitors in Beijing, a whole raft of Paralympians have decided to base themselves in Wales so that they can benefit from the first-class facilities and support structures. Their relocation is another clear sign of Wales’ prominence.

Thirteen-year-old Eleanor Simmonds of Walsall is just one of the many swimmers who have relocated to Swansea to train at the Wales National Pool with Neath-born coach Billy Pye. 

Mr Carling adds, “It is not just investment which has put Wales at the forefront of disability sport. We have some very good people doing a great job. Billy Pye is an example of the first-class coaching talent we have here in Wales.

“It is essential that we continue to ensure that our systems are the best in world and are ahead of our competitors if we are to continue to achieve at the current level. Top coaches are required if we are to remain successful.”