Meet the West Sussex 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games hopefuls

Posted on 31/08/10

You might not recognise all their names now, but in less than 700 days they could be some of the most high profile in the world, and all have one thing in common – West Sussex.

The county’s most talented sportsmen and women hoping to compete in the London 2012 Games are listed here on the West Sussex-Ahead of the Game website.  

They describe the dedication needed to get to the top of their sport and their hopes for the London 2012 Games.

Some of our 2012 Hopefuls have competed at previous Games, including Paralympic swimmer Sascha Kindred, who used to live in Crawley, and World Champion swimmer Gemma Spofforth, whose family home is in Slindon; others are training to compete at their first Games in London, including Shoreham-by-Sea born sailor Megan Pascoe and handball player Mark Hawkins.

Mark, who grew up in Horsham, said: “Being West Sussex born and bred I hope the county benefits from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  It’s going to be a great chance to show off the sporting talent we have in West Sussex, as there are many great athletes from the county.”

As well as featuring our 2012 Hopefuls, West Sussex-Ahead of the Game is helping to celebrate the county's Olympians and Paralympians of the past. The Roll of Honour features people from the Summer Games of 1912 in Stockholm, to 2008 in Beijing.  The more well known include Steyning’s Sally Gunnell OBE, Daley Thompson CBE and Duncan Goodhew MBE, who grew up in Yapton.  Also featured are the achievements of many more such as Horsham born John Sheffield at the 1936 Berlin Games, and Denise St Aubyn Hubbard in London in 1948, who lives near Chichester.  

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy Deborah Urquhart commented: “This project has captured the imaginations of so many people.  We asked for help in collating the information, and many got in contact to tell us stories of people they knew with a strong West Sussex connection, who’ve either competed in the Games or have the potential to do so.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has helped make this important project possible. We will be doing whatever we can to support our 2012 Hopefuls in the next two years”

Hear an interview with Carolyn Carr, West Sussex Co-ordinator for 2012 Games, chatting about the new feature for the website here