News Story Date : 07 January, 2010

Sarah Storey first signing of the new Women’s Horizon Fitness Team

Sarah Storey OBE finished off her excellent year in 2009 by becoming the first signing of the new women’s Horizon Fitness team. The National pursuit champion and multi World and Paralympic champion and record holder will be competing for the team at home in the UK and on the continent.

‘Sarah is a very strong rider with a massive amount of respect in the sport. Her ambition for the future matches her achievements of the past, and that can’t be ignored. She’s someone that gives 100% and I think our younger riders will learn a huge amount from Sarah,’ said team manager and Director Sportif Stefan Wyman on the new signing.
‘We had Sarah over for a few days training to our team house in Belgium and she fitted in very well. She’s easy to get along with and she can give the guys a run for their money on the bike. I think everyone involved with the team is looking forward to working with her in 2010.’ added Wyman ‘To build a team from scratch isn’t easy and to blend the personalities is never as easy as it would seem, but I think with Sarah we have someone that going fit in well, and if she races and trains with her usual gusto, she’ll raise standards, that’s for sure.’

About riding under the Horizon Fitness flag, Sarah said, ‘“I’m excited to join Horizon Fitness Kona and making the step up to racing in a team in bigger races. Road racing is an area I’m keen to improve on as an individual and know that in joining this team I’ll be able to continue to develop both skills and physical strength to complement my paracycling races. I’m excited to be working alongside some of GB’s finest young talent and am hoping the 2010 season will see us all mould into a strong team and win races along the way. My personal goals lie with 2010 World Paracycling Champs in Columbia in August and I’d also love to make the team for England at Commonwealth Games.”

Sarah Storey
Sarah won double gold as a cyclist in Beijing in 2008 after switching from swimming. Following on from her Beijing success, Sarah became the 1st Paralympian to win an individual able-bodied national title (2008 and 2009 3,000m Individual Pursuit). Sarah is now hoping to qualify for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and targets the able-bodied world record over the 3,000m as her long-term goal.

Sarah was awarded the MBE in the 1998 New Years Honours List for her services to swimming for people with disabilities and then received an OBE in the 2009 New Years Honours List for her services to disabled sport.

Sarah was also the 2009 Sunday Times Disability Sportswoman of the Year.