Shelly Woods
Encyclopedia
Shelly Woods is an elite British
Paralympic athlete from the suburb of Layton in Blackpool, Lancashire
.
Shelly started using a wheelchair at the age of 11 after a heavy fall which injured her spinal cord. As a wheelchair athlete, she has achieved considerable success having won the Great North Run
in 2005, setting a new British record for the half-marathon in the process. Shelly is also the national record holder over 5,000 metres and won silver medals in her very first London Marathon
in 2005 and again in 2006.
Shelly also holds the women's course record for the Reading Half Marathon
, set in 2004 at 66 minutes 37 seconds.
On 22 April 2007, Shelly won the London Marathon
Women's wheelchair race for the first time in a record time of 1:50:41.
Representing Team GB at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing
, Woods won a bronze medal in the 5,000 metres wheelchair final at the second time of asking. Having originally been awarded silver for coming second on 8 September, a controversial protest arising from a multiple collision (six athletes crashed) in the final straight led to the race being re-staged four days later.
Shelly later won a silver medal in the 1500m, finishing very strongly to beat Switzerland's Edith Hunkeler
at the line.
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...
Paralympic athlete from the suburb of Layton in Blackpool, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
Shelly started using a wheelchair at the age of 11 after a heavy fall which injured her spinal cord. As a wheelchair athlete, she has achieved considerable success having won the Great North Run
Great North Run
The Bupa Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place annually each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.The first Great...
in 2005, setting a new British record for the half-marathon in the process. Shelly is also the national record holder over 5,000 metres and won silver medals in her very first London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
in 2005 and again in 2006.
Shelly also holds the women's course record for the Reading Half Marathon
Reading Half Marathon
The Reading Half Marathon is a half marathon road running event held on the streets of the English town of Reading. The race is normally held on a Sunday in March or early April of each year...
, set in 2004 at 66 minutes 37 seconds.
On 22 April 2007, Shelly won the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
Women's wheelchair race for the first time in a record time of 1:50:41.
Representing Team GB at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Woods won a bronze medal in the 5,000 metres wheelchair final at the second time of asking. Having originally been awarded silver for coming second on 8 September, a controversial protest arising from a multiple collision (six athletes crashed) in the final straight led to the race being re-staged four days later.
Shelly later won a silver medal in the 1500m, finishing very strongly to beat Switzerland's Edith Hunkeler
Edith Hunkeler
Edith Hunkeler is a Swiss wheelchair racer, who competes at the Olympic and Paralympic level.Hunkeler was in a car accident at age 22 which left her a paraplegic. She began wheelchair racing two years later....
at the line.