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Alumnus David Stone wins Paralympics gold
Cyclist David Stone celebrates after winning the mixed T1-2 road race at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Photo courtesy of London 2012.
Sussex graduate David Stone MBE successfully defended his Paralympics title on Saturday (8 September), winning gold for Great Britain in the mixed T1-2 cycling road race.
The former Social Work and Social Care student finished the 24-kilometre race in 45 minutes and 17 seconds, to win his third Paralympics gold medal.
The victory, he said, made up for some of his disappointment at finishing third in the mixed T1-2 time trial on Wednesday (5 September). He won gold in both events at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
The 31-year-old, who studied at Sussex between 2003 and 2006, said: “It makes it better to win because it was so disappointing not winning in the time trial.
“Compared to Beijing, the competition was so much better, it's good. It pushes me. It makes it a much better sport.”
Just competing at London 2012 has seen David realise a long-held ambition. He was a student at Sussex in 2005 when he heard that London had been selected to host the Olympics and Paralympics – he said at the time: “It would be great to compete in my home country."
As a student, David received a Sussex sports bursary, which gave him a training fund, access to sports facilities on campus free of charge and dedicated support from sports staff.
David has cerebral palsy, a brain condition that affects movement and coordination. He took up cycling as part of physiotherapy treatment to help improve his posture and has been competing since 1997.
You can find out more about David on his website.
