LEGENDS SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF SPORTING TALENT
27 January 2012. The Jaguar Academy of Sport is delighted to announce that ‘Star of the Future’ Crystal Lane will receive one-to-one mentoring from former professional racing cyclist Bryan Steel.
At the 2011 Jaguar Academy of Sport Annual Awards, Great Britain’s para-cyclist Crystal Lane was named the Academy’s ‘Star of the Future’ and was also provided with a Special Recognition Award. In winning these awards, Crystal will receive a full year of mentoring from British cycling legend Bryan Steel – enabling Crystal to develop further.
Crystal embarked on a career in cycling after seeing Sarah Storey, her current teammate, compete at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. Inspired by the performance, Crystal applied for UK Sport’s Paralympic Potential Talent ID Programme in 2009. Crystal was announced as one of three athletes to be part of the ‘talent’ section of British Cycling’s GB Para-Cycling Team for 2011.
Sporting performance was a key factor in Crystal being named the ‘Star of the Future’. Her biggest highlight of 2011 was taking the bronze medal at the Para-Cycling Road Championships behind teammate Sarah Storey who took gold. She has won four out of five international appearances for Great Britain and also won the C5 500m Time Trial at the 2011 British National Track Championships. Crystal also finished within the top 20 cyclists at the able-bodied British National Track Championships, a great achievement for a para-athlete.
Bryan Steel is a former professional cyclist who, in his 15-year career, won Olympic, World and Commonwealth medals both with his team and individually. Bryan started cycling at the age of 14 and with lots of determination and the right support was able to succeed at the highest level.
This sort of achievement is key to inspiring the next generation of British sporting talent and Bryan’s history in cycling makes him the perfect mentor for Crystal.
Crystal Lane, Jaguar Academy of Sport Rising Star, commented: “I am delighted my mentor is Bryan Steel, he is a legend in my sport and to be given the opportunity to have one-to-one mentoring from him is just fantastic. I have worked with Bryan at a workshop in Manchester as part of the Mentoring and Education Programme and he has so much advice to offer.”
Bryan Steel, Jaguar Academy of Sport Mentor, commented: “Crystal is a great young sporting prospect for Britain and I am delighted to be able to help her on her development pathway. I am sure she will take all the advice on board as she has done already.”
The Jaguar Academy of Sport aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. This is fulfilled through a Bursary Fund and a unique Mentoring and Education Programme delivered through a series of workshops and talent days. Mentoring is key to the Academy and provides all the Rising Stars with the non-financial support they need in order to be successful and this support, means our Rising Stars are able to work with Britain’s sporting greats and ultimately their heroes who they aspire to be.
