Sophie and Helen: a medal-winning team
Published 25 July 2014
Helen Scott and Sophie Thornhill ride together on the Great Britain Paracycling team. As pilot and stoker they form a formidable team on the track. Their two gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games are proof, if it were needed, of the strength of their partnership.
Riding their tandem, the girls have to have a lot of trust in one another, and the strength of their relationship forms the basis of all their success – including those Commonwealth medals.
‘I put a lot of trust in the pilot to take us round the track and avoid other bikes,’ said Sophie, who has a condition called oculocutaneous albinism, which has resulted in visual impairment.
‘There’s also a trust level from the pilot to the stoker, because we have to be solid on the back so we can make their job as easy as possible on the front.’
Having been inspired to take up cycling after the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, Sophie was spotted by the Great Britain paracycling coaches and she joined the Paralympic Development Programme in May 2013. It was the fast pace and excitement of track cycling that captured her imagination:
‘The adrenaline rush is amazing – it just inspires you to ride even more and you fall in love with it’.
Off the track the two girls have been involved in Breeze, and recognise the importance of British Cycling’s women’s network in increasing the number of women riding their bikes.
‘Breeze inspires girls to get fit, which is brilliant not only for the sport, but also for women’s sport in general,’ said Helen.
If Helen and Sophie have inspired you to get on your bike, many of our guided rides are suitable for all types of bike – tandems and adaptive bikes included. Simply pop your postcode into our ride finder to discover a ride coming up near you.
Also worth a read:
Accessible routes make enjoyable rides
New Breeze Challenge Events for women