Mel goes for gold again in Games (From Cotswold Journal)

Mel goes for gold again in Games

9:00am Thursday 6th September 2012 in News

INSPIRATIONAL Winchcombe teaching assistant Mel Nicholls will be going for gold today at the Paralympics.

Mel and her wheelchair Dolly will be taking part in the T34 category of the 200m for Team GB in her second race of the Games.

The 33-year-old, who works with the year four class at Winchombe Abbey School, competed in the 100m last Friday but failed to make the final.

She will be cheered on by friend and colleague Janet Dowling along with the rest of the school who will watch in their classrooms.

Mrs Dowling said watching Mel compete last week in the Olympic stadium was fantastic.

“The atmosphere was just amazing,” she said. “It was so emotional. My whole family cried.

“It was just incredible to think the effort she’s put in and where she was a few years ago.”

Determined Mel was an able-bodied sportswoman when she suffered two strokes in her 20s, before a third stroke when she was 30 saw her lose the use of her left leg and some of her left arm.

She refused to let her experiences get the better of her and in 2009, after success competing in paraequestrianism, she tried wheelchair racing and never looked back.

In a statement on her Facebook page she said: “I just want to say the most heartfelt thanks to all of my wonderful friends and my family who made the journey to come and support me.

“It has been a dream come true. The road has been far from an easy one, but whatever the ups and downs, I wouldn’t change it for anything.”