Two young athletes from Telford are celebrating this week after scooping silver medals in the Paralympic Games.
Ricky Balshaw from Shawbirch won the medal while participating in the equestrian individual freestyle in Hong Kong while Mickey Bushell won silver medal by taking part in the 100m finals in Beijing.
Balshaw, a 21 year old Team GB rider, suffers from cerebal palsy and underwent an operation at Oswestry’s Orthopaedic Hospital 10 years ago on the lower area of his back to reduce muscle spasms.
The success of that procedure has been hailed as allowing him to train and win his place in Team GB.
But Ricky is not the only Olympic hero in the family. His uncle, Richie Woodhall is a former medal winning boxer who said of Ricky’s performance: “Everyone is over the moon. We are all very proud of him.”
Meanwhile, wheelchair racer Micky Bushell is also celebrating success.
A former pupil at the Lord Silkin School at Stirchley, Micky now studies sports at the Telford College of Arts and Technology.
He won the silver medal while taking part in the men’s T53 100m finals, smashing the European record during the race. He was just seconds away from winning a gold medal.
The 18 year old suffers from a very rare medical condition which means that he is missing seven vertabrae from the lower part of his back.
He said of his achievements: “I can’t believe it.”
Doug Boynton principal at TCAT joined staff and students to watch the him take part in the games. Mr Boynton said: “It is an awesome achievement from a delightful young man.”
