CUIDE RI CATHY – AILEEN MCGLYNN
Monday 9th March, 10pm, BBC ALBA
LEARNING TO CYCLE ON A BIKE WITH PLASTIC WHEELS, SPORTSWOMEN OF THE YEAR, AILEEN MCGLYNN, SHOWS-OFF HER PEDAL POWER ON BBC ALBA
Cyclist Aileen McGlynn OBE, reveals that there’s “more to come” as her sights are firmly set on competing in the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games as well as the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Competing on home soil would be a real honor for Glasgow born Aileen, as she hopes to “smash” her current record.
Scotland’s triple Paralympic gold medalist, Aileen McGlynn, speaks to Cathy MacDonald for her latest programme in the Cuide ri Cathy series for BBC ALBA.
Cameras follow Aileen’s preparations in the run up to winning the title of the Evening Times Sportswoman of the Year 2008 Award, which Aileen outlines is far more nerve racking than preparing for a race, as “your legs don’t turn to jelly.” However, Aileen reveals that preparations for the Olympic final in Athens got off to a ripping start as tandem partner, Ellen Hunter, tore her racing suit minutes before the Paralympics final. Ever professional, Aileen remained calm under the pressure.
Aileen had a passion for cycling from a young age, first learning on her sister’s bike that had plastic wheels, before borrowing a “proper bike” from her neighbour until she could afford to buy her own.
So determined was Aileen to success in the world of cycling, that when she joined her local club she didn’t reveal her partial sightedness to fellow members fearing that they would have stopped her cycling.
Aileen also talks about the time when trying out for the British team in 2001 she astonished the coaches when she turning up at Manchester Velodrome attempting to make it in to the Paralympics cycling team. Not only making the team, she smashed the world record for the flying 200 metres in the process.
Aileen McGlynn believes that having obstacles in her way has made her far more determined and the “good sports person” that she is today.
CUIDE RI CATHY will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Monday 9 March at 22.00 and is available on Sky channel 168 & Freesat channel 110.