{"id":47662,"title":"Elite Sport Performance Scheme: Meet the Athletes","description":"Kitlocker are proud to work the inspiring students of the University of Sheffield, and the athletes involved with the Elite Sport Performance Scheme.","content":"<p>We have recently had the pleasure of meeting up with a number of prominent sportspeople within our area. As you may have seen back in August, we interviewed Rebecca Bedford. This was in partnership with the University of Sheffield\u2019s Elite Sport Performance Scheme, which Rebecca is part of. The interview\u00a0took place just weeks before she jetted off to Canada, where she would be proudly representing Great Britain at the 2017 World Dwarf Games. We were able gain a fascinating insight into her training schedule, love for the game and her educational studies.<\/p><p>Rebecca exceeded all expectations at the Games. The multi-talented sportsperson won a total of six gold medals, as well as a silver one, in North America. This wasn\u2019t just in badminton however. She was also successful in a remarkable variety of sports including table tennis, football and power-lifting.<\/p><div data-youtube-video=\"\"><iframe class=\"youtube\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qVW723316R0\"><\/iframe><\/div><p>Rebecca\u2019s success is undoubtedly down to hard work and determination. With this said, every accomplished sportsperson needs a strong support network. The Elite Sport Performance Scheme has provided this to Rebecca as well as many others. Since meeting Rebecca, we have\u00a0met with three other prominent athletes. Each of these make the most of the benefits Sport Sheffield have to offer them.<\/p><h2><strong>Steven Bayton: Marathon Runner<\/strong><\/h2><p>Steven Bayton finished ahead of 9,500 runners to win the Greater Manchester Marathon last year. He clocked an impressive time of\u00a02:22:34 in that race for his proudest sporting moment. Our interview with him, which you can watch below, was perhaps our favourite\u00a0that we have ever conducted! This took place in Steven\u2019s training location out in the outskirts of Sheffield.<\/p><p>To us, it was clear to see this was his natural habitat. The scenic environment was great for filming in, and we couldn\u2019t resist some epic shots from a moving vehicle.\u00a0The fact that Steven kept up with the pace is \u2013 in hindsight \u2013 even more impressive, though!<\/p><div data-youtube-video=\"\"><iframe class=\"youtube\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8FpA-LXvrOQ\"><\/iframe><\/div><h2><strong>Charlotte Ward: Sprint Orienteering<\/strong><\/h2><p>We conducted the final two interviews in similarly glorious sunshine, this time at Weston Park in Sheffield.\u00a0Charlotte Ward also represents Great Britain but in a much different capacity to Rebecca. She is an elite orienteer and has represented her country at the World Championships and World Cup. Charlotte has even travelled to as far Beijing to compete. We met up with us just days before she flew out to yet another tournament overseas.<\/p><p>As with each athlete on the scheme, Charlotte keenly informed us of the help she gets from the university. Like Rebecca, she mentioned Simon Vardy \u2013 the Performance Sport Development Officer at The University of Sheffield. It must be pleasing for him to hear of the students speaking so highly of his work! The access to strength and conditioning sessions also seem to be welcome by those on the scheme.<\/p><div data-youtube-video=\"\"><iframe class=\"youtube\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PnARpkJRo44\"><\/iframe><\/div><h2><strong>Thomas Horton: 3,000m Steeplechase<\/strong><\/h2><p>Finally, we were able to talk to Thomas Horton about his participation in the scheme. Thomas balances his studies at the University reading a PhD in Civil and Structural Engineering with another lesser-recognised sport. The 3,000m steeplechase \u2013 much like sprint orienteering \u2013 does not receive much press coverage. It was therefore great to learn more about it. Fortunately for us, Thomas was happy to introduce us to it and even brought his hurdles along with him!<\/p><p>Thomas, like all of those interviewed as part of the Elite Sport Performance Scheme series, is a celebrated sportsman. He won the English Championships last summer, finishing just ahead of yet another University of Sheffield athlete. This further demonstrates that Sport Sheffield is extremely committed to preparing their students for success. Kitlocker are\u00a0very proud that we are associated\u00a0with the extraordinary and charismatic talent-pool\u00a0involved with the ESPS.<\/p><div data-youtube-video=\"\"><iframe class=\"youtube\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gD2KiyKmaBk\"><\/iframe><\/div><p>We would like to thank all the athletes for their time taking part in these interviews. Each student from the university offered a unique and expert insight into each of their sports. We\u2019re delighted to provide each of them with the professional Nike outfits that their talents deserve. Hopefully the garments will play a small part in continued success for the future.<\/p><p>Find out more about the University of Sheffield\u2019s Elite Sport Performance Scheme\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sport-sheffield.com\/performance-sport\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>HERE<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>","urlTitle":"elite-sport-performance-scheme-meet-the-athletes","url":"\/blog\/elite-sport-performance-scheme-meet-the-athletes\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/elite-sport-performance-scheme-meet-the-athletes\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/kitlocker.com\/blog\/elite-sport-performance-scheme-meet-the-athletes\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1743003499,"updatedAt":1749660027,"publishedAt":1749660026,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":356097,"name":"Kitlocker"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/eiynsoz2anoarpzpmr0rnpkt0istkjon9qsnoohoi5casq80.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/eiynsoz2anoarpzpmr0rnpkt0istkjon9qsnoohoi5casq80.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/eiynsoz2anoarpzpmr0rnpkt0istkjon9qsnoohoi5casq80.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Elite Sport Performance Scheme: Meet the Athletes","metaDescription":"Kitlocker are proud to work the inspiring students of the University of Sheffield, and the athletes involved with the Elite Sport Performance Scheme.","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":47554,"title":"Read: Charlie's Post Women's World Cup Thoughts \ud83e\udd14","url":"\/blog\/womens-world-cup-thoughts\/","urlTitle":"womens-world-cup-thoughts","division":356097,"description":"One of our colleagues sums up her thoughts on the Women's World Cup after being in attendance in Australia.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/8rhdbngct6epw2b8jexcmthwewac6re8yqgdud1ackqfhekt.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/8rhdbngct6epw2b8jexcmthwewac6re8yqgdud1ackqfhekt.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":47815,"title":"Kitlocker College Cup 2018 Lifted by SGS College","url":"\/blog\/kitlocker-college-cup-2018\/","urlTitle":"kitlocker-college-cup-2018","division":356097,"description":"We hosted a feast of football at St George's Park as SGS College emerged triumphant in the inaugural Kitlocker.com College Cup tournament.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/w80ups7ewb9anwomt3c5dahlp1nn4zd3k7xjaira7lp57ijf.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/w80ups7ewb9anwomt3c5dahlp1nn4zd3k7xjaira7lp57ijf.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":47774,"title":"Introducing: The New Nike 22 Ranges","url":"\/blog\/indroducing-nike-22\/","urlTitle":"indroducing-nike-22","division":356097,"description":"Nike have dropped their new training ranges for 2022. 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