Aileen McGlynn

Aileen McGlynn

McGlynn at the Olympic Victory Parade
Personal information
Full name Aileen McGlynn
Born 22 June 1973
Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom
Team information
Discipline Tandem
Role Stoker
Rider type Sprint
Amateur team(s)
1991–? Glenmarnock Wheelers
? Johnstone Wheelers
?–2004 Royal Albert Cycling Club
Professional team(s)
2013 Team Scotland
2004–2013 Great Britain Paracycling Team
Infobox last updated on
01 August 2014

Aileen McGlynn OBE (born 22 June 1973)[1] is a Scottish paralympic tandem cyclist, tandem piloted until 2009 by Ellen Hunter[2] piloted by Helen Scott until 2012 and currently piloted by Louise Haston.

Biography

Born in Paisley and grew up in Glasgow,[1] McGlynn was partially sighted at birth, she joined the Glenmarnock Wheelers cycling club at the age of 18 but was initially reluctant to tell her club mates about her disability. However when the club worked it out they were very supportive. She is also a patron of an organization called 'Crank It Up' who aim to provide cycling for people of all abilities.[1]

Before McGlynn became a full-time athlete, she was a trainee actuary with a degree in mathematics, statistics and management science[3] from the University of Strathclyde.

McGlynn and Hunter broke the flying 200m women’s tandem World record in April 2004.[2]

At the 2006 IPC Track Cycling World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, the pair won gold in the Tamdem Kilo (VI), setting a world record of 1:10.795 in the process and winning a Rainbow Jersey, they ranked 17th among 33 male competitors.[2]

McGlynn and Hunter, coached by Barney Storey,[4] once again broke the World Record at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester, in a time of 1:10.381, but despite this, failed to gain a podium position.[5]

The pair represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, winning gold in the Kilo (B&VI 1–3), setting a new world record time of 1:09.066 in the process, and in the individual pursuit (B&VI 1–3).

Already a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), McGlynn was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.[6] She was also named Alumna of the Year by the University of Strathclyde in 2009.[7]

McGlynn took her first silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, riding alongside Louise Haston in the Sprint. The pair were defeated in the final by the English duo of Scott and Sophie Thornhill.[8]

McGlynn took her second silver medal for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, in the Kilo. Aileen and Louise were the 1st tandem to go sub 1:10, recording a time of 1:09.771. Gold went to England's Thornhill & Scott.[9]

Palmarès

2004
1st Women's Tandem Kilo (B 1–3), 2004 Summer Paralympics
2nd Women's Tandem Sprint (B 1–3), 2004 Summer Paralympics
2nd Disability Omnium, British National Track Championships
2005
1st Tandem Kilo, VISA Paralympic World Cup
1st Tandem Sprint, VISA Paralympic World Cup
1st Tandem Kilo, European Championships
1st Tandem Kilo, European Open Championships
1st Disability Omnium, British National Track Championships
2006
1st Tandem sprint, VISA Paralympic World Cup (B/VI female)[2]
2007
1st Tandem sprint, VISA Paralympic World Cup (B/VI female)[10]
2008
1st Kilo (B&VI 1–3), 2008 Summer Paralympics[11]
1st Individual pursuit (B&VI 1–3), 2008 Summer Paralympics

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Patrons – Aileen McGlynn MBE". Crank It Up: Cycling for All.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Athlete: Ellen Hunter". Disability Sport Wales. 2007.
  3. "Aileen McGlynn MBE". Scottish Institute of Sport.
  4. "Medals galore for GB cyclists at Visa Paralympic World Cup". Paralympics GB. May 2007.
  5. "Storey claims record-breaking win". BBC Sport. 27 March 2008.
  6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58929. p. 11. 31 December 2008.
  7. "University of Strathclyde Alumnus of the Year". University of Strathclyde. 2009.
  8. "Glasgow 2014: England's Thornhill & Scott win tandem gold". bbc.co.uk. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  9. "2014 Commonwealth Games Glasgow, Scotland England win's women's tandem kilo". . 28 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  10. "Great Britain's Aileen McGlynn and Ellen Hunter win the tandem sprint final, B/VI female – Photo". Yahoo! Eurosport. 11 May 2007.
  11. "British cyclists win three golds", BBC, 7 September 2008