The bad news for Wales is that a likely Paralympic gold medallist will not be able to compete at the London Games next year. The good news for Simon Richardson is that he is still alive.
A double gold medallist in Beijing, with a silver as well, cyclist Richardson was training on the roads around Bridgend when he was hit by a vehicle and nearly died – probably would have done if he were not so fi t that the body was able to keep going.
The irony is that he has achieved more worldwide fame for his misfortune that the good fortune of winning medals in China, but all that pales into signifi cance as he battles back to fi tness with his focus turning from competition to fund-raising.
Apart from raising money for the Wales Air Ambulance which saved his life, he is also living proof of a pretty important message of trying to promote the safety of cycling on the roads and to make sure motorists leave enough space for their twin-wheeled brethren.
With former Olympic gold medal-winning rower James Cracknell nearly dying after being hit by a lorry's wing mirror while cycling in America, the message is very timely and deservedly getting a fair bit of coverage.
The fund-raising and publicity will come later, the fi rst thing is that Richardson is on the road to recovery.
“I will get there and that is the main thing,” he said. “We are setting up a Bike Safe campaign to be launched in the new year.
“I am also planning to cycle round Wales, 750 miles, to raise money for the air ambulance. There are so many people who want to do it that it takes some setting up. I think we will have to limit it to 10 riders doing it all with others joining on each day.
“The main target of that is raising money for the air ambulance – without which I would have died on the side of the road. People do not realise it is all charity based, but without them I would have had major problems getting to hospital.
“There was an air ambulance, police helicopter, four or fi ve police cars, umpteen ambulances, the chief constable was there.
issue19twothousand&twelve
sportingwales
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