Darren Kenny
Encyclopedia
Darren Kenny OBE
(born 17 March 1970) is a British
road
and track
racing cyclist and Paralympian
. Kenny's results have made him one of his sport's biggest stars.
, Wiltshire
, Kenny now lives in Verwood
, Dorset
. Having been involved in cycling since he was young, Kenny started racing at the age of eleven. In 1988, at the age of 19, an accident at the Tour of Ireland
whilst descending the Wicklow Gap looked likely to have ended his career. He had damaged his neck, but did not realise the extent of the damage at the time. A series of accidents after that exacerbated his condition, as Kenny put it: "until I was just lying on the sofa putting on weight and on heavy medication.”
At thirty years old, Kenny returned to cycling, initially to improve his fitness, but he soon began racing once more. Encouraged by a friend, Kenny contacted British Cycling
to find out more about Paralympics racing. He competed at the British National Track Championships
, achieving some good times, he was invited onto the Paralympic squad.
In January 2008, Kenny was nominated for "Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability" Laureus World Sports Awards
, which recognise sporting achievement during the previous year.
Kenny, managed to set a new world record in the preliminary round of the Individual pursuit (CP 3)
at the Paralympics
, the new record was 5.812 seconds faster than his own previous world record.
Kenny was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.
2005
2006
2007
2008
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 17 March 1970) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
road
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
and track
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
racing cyclist and Paralympian
Paralympian
A Paralympian is an athlete who has participated in the Paralympic Games.A Paralympic athlete has a physical disability. The disability can be amputation, spinal cord injuries, visual impairment or cerebral palsy. An exception is the sighted guides for athletes with a visual impairment...
. Kenny's results have made him one of his sport's biggest stars.
Career
Born in SalisburySalisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, Kenny now lives in Verwood
Verwood
Verwood is a town and civil parish in Dorset, England. The town lies north of Bournemouth and north of Poole. The town has a population of 14,820 according to latest figures from Dorset County Council, making it the largest town in Dorset without an upper school in terms of population.-Early...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. Having been involved in cycling since he was young, Kenny started racing at the age of eleven. In 1988, at the age of 19, an accident at the Tour of Ireland
Tour of Ireland
The Tour of Ireland is a bicycle stage race held in August. The first race debuted in 1953 and ran until 1957. It was revived in 1965 and ran until 1985. In 1985 the 5 day Nissan International Classic took over as the Tour of Ireland. This lasted for 8 years until 1992...
whilst descending the Wicklow Gap looked likely to have ended his career. He had damaged his neck, but did not realise the extent of the damage at the time. A series of accidents after that exacerbated his condition, as Kenny put it: "until I was just lying on the sofa putting on weight and on heavy medication.”
At thirty years old, Kenny returned to cycling, initially to improve his fitness, but he soon began racing once more. Encouraged by a friend, Kenny contacted British Cycling
British Cycling
British Cycling is the national governing body for cycle racing in Great Britain. It administers most competitive cycling in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man...
to find out more about Paralympics racing. He competed at the British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...
, achieving some good times, he was invited onto the Paralympic squad.
In January 2008, Kenny was nominated for "Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability" Laureus World Sports Awards
Laureus World Sports Awards
The Laureus World Sports Awards are awarded annually to sportspeople who have been outstanding during the previous year. The Laureus World Sports Awards were established in 1999 by Founding Patrons Daimler and Richemont and is supported by its Global Partners Mercedes-Benz, IWC Schaffhausen and...
, which recognise sporting achievement during the previous year.
Kenny, managed to set a new world record in the preliminary round of the Individual pursuit (CP 3)
Cycling at the 2008 Summer Paralympics - Men's individual pursuit (CP 3)
The Men's individual pursuit at the 2008 Summer Paralympics took place on 7 August at the Laoshan Velodrome. The pre-event favorite to win the gold medal was reigning champion, Darren Kenny of Great Britain.- Preliminaries :...
at the Paralympics
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
, the new record was 5.812 seconds faster than his own previous world record.
Kenny was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.
Results
2004- , Kilo, Paralympics2004 Summer ParalympicsThe 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
, Athens - , Pursuit, Paralympics, Athens
- , Combined Road Race and Time Trial, Paralympics, Athens
2005
- , 200m, World Disability Championships
- , Kilo, World Disability Championships
- , Pursuit, World Disability Championships
- , Team Sprint, World Disability Championships
- , Road Race, World Disability Championships
- , Time Trial, World Disability Championships
2006
- , Kilo, World Disability Championships
- , Pursuit, World Disability Championships
- , Time Trial, World Disability Championships
- , Road Race, World Disability Championships
2007
- , Kilo, World Disability Championships
- , Pursuit, World Disability Championships
- , Time Trial, World Disability Championships
- , Road Race
2008
- Men's 1km time trial (CP 3), Paralympics2008 Summer ParalympicsThe 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
, Beijing - Men's team sprint (LC1–4 CP3/4), Paralympics, Beijing (with Mark BristowMark BristowMark Bristow MBE is an English paralympic cyclist. Born in Nazeing near Waltham Abbey, Essex, Bristow currently resides in Sacramento, California. He took up took up the sport of disability cycling after being injured in a bike crash in San Francisco in September 1997...
and Jody CundyJody CundyJody Alan Cundy MBE is an English cyclist and former swimmer.-Biography:Born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, he is now based in Manchester where he trains with the Great Britain Cycling squad. Cundy was born with a deformed foot, which was amputated when he was three years old...
) - Individual pursuit (CP 3)Cycling at the 2008 Summer Paralympics - Men's individual pursuit (CP 3)The Men's individual pursuit at the 2008 Summer Paralympics took place on 7 August at the Laoshan Velodrome. The pre-event favorite to win the gold medal was reigning champion, Darren Kenny of Great Britain.- Preliminaries :...
, Paralympics, Beijing - Men's road race (LC 3–4/CP 3), Paralympics, Beijing
- Men's road time trial (CP 3), Paralympics, Beijing
External links
- British Cycling Bio
- Dave Mellor Cycles