WHEELCHAIR basketball star Siobhan Fitzpatrick has been selected as one of 1,600 youngsters to compete at this year’s Sainsbury’s School Games.
The 16-year-old will represent England Central in the wheelchair basketball which is one of 12 sports being contested at the four-day event in Manchester between September 4-7.
It will be Siobhan’s fourth appearance at the School Games and she is looking forward to getting another taste of competing at the highest level having who won a silver medal with the Great Britain team at the under-25 European Wheelchair Basketball Championships last year.
She said: “I am over the moon about my selection and know that, along with my team mates, England Central can regain their title after missing out on a gold medal in 2013 to England North.
“I love being able to interact with both able bodied and disabled athletes in all sports.
“Each year through competing, I see an increase in interest in the viewers of wheelchair basketball from other athletes from a variety of sports.
“My main aims for the School Games is to use my previous experience of this to help the new members of this fantastic event.
“I would also like to develop my personal game and experiences within a large scale event through hopefully gaining a gold medal.”
A number of British stars have all been on the same journey as Siobhan and experienced competing at the School Games before going on to sporting success at a senior level.
They include the likes of rising heptathlon star, Katrina Johnson-Thompson, Paralympic swimming legend Ellie Simmonds and Paralympic Gold Medallist sprinter Jonnie Peacock.
Ahead of the School Games people in Coventry are being urged to get behind Siobhan via the Sainsbury’s ‘Show your Support’ campaign.
People can pledge their messages of support either online by using #2014SSG or on the campaign website at 2014schoolgames.com/support.
The messages will be broadcast on a giant screen on the ‘Show your Support’ bus when it visits the Games in September.
