Paralympian & Rio Bronze Medal Winner Nominated For Wrexham Sports Award

A young shot-putter who took a Bronze Medal for Team GB at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio is among the many athletes nominated for this year’s Wrexham Sports Awards.

Sabrina Fortune, a 19-year-old who trains at the Queensway Stadium in Wrexham, took the Bronze medal for Team GB while competing at Rio on September 10.

Fortune, who has speech dyspraxia, threw a personal best of 12.94m during the F20 shot-put. Sabrina’s achievement made her the first Welsh athlete during the games to reach the podium.

Her performance leaves her in the top 25 of shot put athletes in the UK and fourth in Wales – for both able-bodied and disabled competitors alike.

Sabrina is already looking ahead to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with hopes to win a gold medal.

Following her Paralympic achievements, she is now one of the nominees for the Disability Sports Personality of the Year in the upcoming Wrexham Sports Awards.

This is not the first time Sabrina has been associated with the award, having previously won it in 2014.

Ian Robinson, Sabrina’s coach, said: “Sabrina’s delighted with her Bronze – she’s hoping for Gold in Tokyo, and I think that’s possible. Her best has improved by a meter a year in the last two years.

On Sabrina’s nomination, Mr Robinson added: “I’m very pleased she’s been nominated for a Sports Award and I think she’s worked hard for it. I would certainly support the nomination.”

He added: “And hopefully, it will encourage more people not just to nominate, but also to take part.”

Cllr Ron Prince, Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti-Poverty, added: “Sabrina’s nomination is well-deserved, and I know she’ll be in good company among all the other nominees for this year’s Sports Awards.

“She and trainer Ian Robinson should be congratulated on her recent success at the Paralympics, and we look forward to further successes in her future career.

“But while her successes are impressive, she won’t be alone in being one of Wrexham’s sporting heroes, and I urge members of the public and members of community groups or sports teams to get in touch and nominate those whom they think deserve a place in this year’s shortlist.”

The Sports Awards will take place at the Brymbo Sports and Social Complex (College Hill, Brymbo, Tanyfron LL11 5TF) on Thursday, November 3, with nominations closing on Friday, September 30.

Nominations can be made online at the Wrexham Council website; on Facebook by phone on 01978 297359 or e-mail at [email protected].

Picture – BBC