LISSIE Simpson hopes to achieve a lifelong dream by winning gold for Great Britain at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.
Simpson is a physiotherapist at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust.
The paracyclist suffered a stroke after undergoing surgery on a brain tumour in 2015 which left her paralysed down her left side.
Prior to the surgery, Simpson was a member of Great Britain’s under-19 handball team.
She also played hockey and football at regional level.
However, Simpson discovered paracycling in 2022 at a British Cycling talent ID day.
And she is now chasing her dream of winning gold for Great Britain on the Paralympic stage.
Simpson said: “Representing Team GB and winning a gold medal has been my goal from a young age.
“I am determined to achieve this and prove anything is possible.
“I had to learn to walk again and to do things one-handed with my non-dominant right hand.
“But I am a very determined individual and returned to university to complete my degree in physiotherapy.
“As a child I was often on my bike; cycling to school, to the park, to see friends gave me so much freedom.
“When I went on a borrowed road bike at the talent ID day I felt free.
“For the first time I could do something that felt somewhat similar to before my stroke – I could pedal on two wheels.”
Simpson won the women’s 1km time trial for C1 to 5 para cyclists at the National Track Championships in a world record time in February earlier this year.
And she also competed in para-cycling World Cup events in Belgium and Italy.
Simpson rides for Royal Leamington Spa Cycling Club and self-funds her coaching equipment and travel costs.
Simpson added: “I am a driven individual working towards being the best women’s C2 rider there is.
“As part of the Community Stroke Team, I’m also passionate about helping patients achieve their goals when they are recovering from a stroke.
“I had community rehab myself and having that empathy of knowing what they are going through helps me to build great relationships with patients.”
