Outstanding performances at the Cerebral Palsy World Games have seen Salford swimmer Will Holland-Leavens named a finalist for the Pride of Sport Awards. The Daily Mirror and Sport England Pride of Sport Awards celebrate and recognise the nation’s unsung heroes of sport. Will, 24, is up for the award of Disabled Sportsperson of the Year.
Will has been selected by a prestigious judging panel including Rebecca Adlington, Matt Dawon, Sally Gunnell and Barry McGuigan, amongst others. The winners will be crowned at a ceremony on Wednesday 25 November at Grosvenor House in London, hosted by TV presenter Ben Shephard.
Swimmer Will lives in Leigh and also teaches young children to swim with Salford Community Leisure. Born with a form of Cerebral Palsy, he took up swimming at the age of four to help with flexibility and mobility. He has been competing for 14 years, winning six gold medals this summer at Nottingham’s CP World Games and hopes to make the Para British swim team for the European Championships and the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016.
“I was born with cerebal palsy and took up swimming as part of my rehabilitation, as it keeps my muscles lose and mobile otherwise I would stiffen up.
I came to Salford in 2009 to study at Salford University and graduated with a Degree in sports management and was fortunate enough to get a job with Salford Community Leisure as a lifeguard and swmming instructor.
“Last December I was involved in a car crash that stopped me from training for a month, which is a long time for a swimmer, happily I have fully recovered and back to winning ways.
“I am really, really happy to be nominated for this prestigious award and fingers crossed that I win.
“I want to give back to swimming what it has given to me, to teach youngsters a valuable life skill that will enable them to get out of the sport what I have,” said Will. “Swimming has been a big part of my life and I’m training hard when I’m not teaching”.
Salford Community Leisure’s Head of Sport & Leisure, Garry Bateman, comments “We couldn’t be more proud of Will, who is not only a very talented swimmer but a fantastic teacher, who inspires everyone around him. Salford Community Leisure has a tremendous programme that has helped Will to develop in his sport. We’ll be keeping everything crossed for him on the night of the awards!”.
Ben Shephard said, “All too often we see sportspeople collecting awards and medals on stages across the world, however, it is those at a grassroots level, those that nurture talent at a local level that also deserve celebration.”
As well as raising awareness about sport and encouraging people to be more active on a regular basis, the event will honour those who have contributed to sport at a local or national level, across all walks of life.
