Newbury's Louise Sugden named in Team England’s ‘Generation 22’ ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games
Newbury’s Louise Sugden has been revealed as part of Team England’s ‘Generation 22’ ahead of next year’s home Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The new campaign shines a light on a generation of English athletes who are breaking through and set to star at Birmingham 2022 next year.
Reflecting Team England’s values of diversity and inclusivity, the campaign will profile athletes from different sports, backgrounds, and locations across the country in the run up to the Games next summer.
Nineteen sports will feature in Birmingham with a fully integrated programme of Para-sports.
Sugden recently made the transition from wheelchair basketball to para powerlifting in 2018.
After just nine months in the sport, she represented Team England at the Gold Coast Games and took home a silver medal.
Speaking to Team England on her transition from wheelchair basketball to para powerlifting, she said: “the transition from a team sport to an individual sport was really difficult initially, but one that I am very glad I made.”
Sugden has been incredibly successful since her transition into the sport, recently claiming the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Speaking to Team England on her excitement of being given the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd, she, said: “I’m working hard every day to make sure that I am in the best position possible to do so for the Birmingham Games”.
Whenever Sugden, who was involved in a road traffic accident in 1985 that resulted in paraplegia, is spoken to, her determination is clear for all to see.
Earlier in the year, she was asked what motivates her.
“I just love challenging perceptions. I love people looking at me and then finding out how much I bench, because they don't expect me to be able to bench 130kg.
“People appreciate that you may have a disability, but it's more about what you can do rather than what you can't.
“Oh and of course being able to bench more than most men!”
Paul Blanchard, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games England, said about Generation 22: “We have an amazing set of ambitious, diverse athletes coming through Team England at the moment and it’s important to showcase their stories and connect them with the fans ahead of what’s going to be an incredible home Games next year in Birmingham.”