sport
KEEPING UP
WITH MARK
COLBOURNE
Once a Paralympian
and now a motivational
speaker, Mark Colbourne
MBE tells his story to
Alistair Corless.
“Ever since I was a small lad I dreamt of becoming
an athlete. Even though I enjoyed school and
learning, sport was always my passion.”
Growing up with a love for triathlon, paragliding
and volleyball, Paralympic cyclist Mark Colbourne
has always dreamed of becoming a professional
athlete but in 2009 his life changed forever. During
a Paragliding session in Swansea Mark fell 40 feet
after performing an emergency landing; he broke
his back, and his lower legs became paralysed.
Mark faced a gruelling six months of rehabilitation
in hospital, but he credits cycling for helping him,
both mentally and physically.
“My feelings were to focus on what I could do
rather than what I couldn’t do. Even though my
feet didn’t work, I found that my quads and hip
flexors weren’t affected and, through turning the
pedals on the static bike, I was able to exercise.
This immediately gave me a sense of confidence
and every time I stepped onto that bike I didn’t
feel disabled. You just want to do it more and more
because it takes you out of the physical prison of
being disabled.”
During a charity cycle ride Mark met Dr Ben
Matthews, a chiropractor from Cardiff, who
encouraged him to take up cycling professionally.
“After asking me whether I was competing for just
the one day, I replied by saying that I would be
riding for the whole week (523 miles) to which he
was seemingly shocked and taken aback. He then
went onto to introduce himself as Dr Ben Matthews
and he asked me, ‘Are you training for the London
2012 Paralympics?’ Before I had time to reply he
said: ‘Well, I think you should.’”
Under the guidance of Neil Smith, cycling coach
at Disability Sport Wales, Mark began training
routinely. He was then picked up by British Cycling,
and shipped off to Manchester as part of the
Paralympic Academy.
However the story of Mark’s journey to London
2012 was blighted by more adversity when his
father was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
“I was just beginning to accept my disability
and my accident, experiencing some of the
most exciting times in my life,” says Colbourne,
“After being selected to go to the World Track
Championships my father was at the last stages of
his illness, I had to make an almost very selfish, but
positive, decision to go to Los Angeles.
“After four days of being out there he passed
away, and whilst my head was all over the place I
managed to win a silver medal in the sprint and a
GREAT WELSH MARATHON
WHAT makes Wales great? Snowdonia? Dylan
Thomas? Maybe even the national rugby team
(most recent Six Nations campaign excluded). For
a country with such a vast and vibrant culture
isn’t it time that Wales had its own great race?
With the nation’s capital only hosting a half
marathon, those in search of said race can look no
further than Llanelli where this year’s Great Welsh
Marathon is being held. Entering its fifth year, the
26.2-mile course is heralded by runners around
the UK as one not to miss, being considered
perfect for those chasing a personal best.
Set within Llanelli’s Millennium Coastal Park,
the course not only aids those running through
BUZZ 46
its terrain – it’s flat and traffic-free – but also
aesthetically gives runners that extra boost with
stunning views of the Gower peninsula.
The race also incorporates a half marathon option, and
there will be free parking plus a free post-race massage
offered for the inevitably weary finishers.
With a growing reputation as one of Wales’ best running
events, both part time amblers and full time gliders
should lace up and enter . AC
The Great Welsh Marathon, Millennium
Coastal Park, Llanelli, Sun 13 Apr.
Info: 01554 758036 / www.
humanbeingactive.org
gold medal in the 3km pursuit. It is not until you’re
physically, emotionally and even spiritually tested
in life that you learn to achieve great things.”
Roll on August 2012 where Mark, in his first
Paralympics, wins Britain’s first medal of the
games with silver in the men’s C1-C3 1km time
trial. Further medals in the C1-C3 3km individual
pursuit (gold) and C1-C3 Kilo (silver) propelled
Mark into stardom, earning him an MBE and a gold
postbox in his hometown, Tredegar.
Since retiring from professional cycling last
summer, Mark has become an international
motivational speaker: “I really enjoy helping other
people achieve their dreams. I am considering
setting up a cycle camp company so that I can help
other people learn what I’ve learnt. I want to help
people enjoy the art and sport of cycling as it is a
very social form of exercise.”
Mark Colbourne, The Welsh Cycle
Show, The Wales National Velodrome,
Newport, Sat 5 + Sun 6 Apr.
Info: www.welshcycleshow.com