Jody Cundy
Knowing that pain is temporary, however the feeling of winning lasts forever.
About Jody Cundy
Jody was born with a deformed right foot which was amputated at the age of 3. He was then fitted with a prosthetic leg, and hasn't looked back since.
Fast facts
| Nationality | British |
|---|---|
| Amputation | Below the knee |
| Competitive Class | C4 |
| Main Events | Para-cycling Events (1km Time Trial (Kilo), Team Sprint, 4km Pursuit) |
| Össur Products | Custom race leg, Flex-Foot VSP, Iceross Seal-In X5 |
Competitive highlights
| Year | Highlight |
|---|---|
| 2012 |
Paralympic Games, London, UK |
Q & A
Who has been the biggest supporter in your career?
"My family, mum, dad, brother and girlfriend."
Who first got you interested in your sport and who influenced you to take up a competitive sport?
"Watching Chris Boardman win gold in 1992 on his Lotus bike got me interesting track cycling. Later (after a very successful swimming career) I finally got to ride on a velodrome, where the coach of Newport Velo cycling club, Neil Smith, helped to take my cycling to the next level and make the GB team."
Which athletes do you most admire?
"Before he retired I was a big Michael Jordan fan, but athletes I currently admire are Michael Phelps, Valentino Rossi, Fabian Cancellara."
Which competitors do you most fear?
"Jiri Jezek, as he’s always on the podium, from the kilo to road race, a great cyclist."
Who is your idol?
"I don’t think I have one. However when I was growing up my sporting idol was Michael Jordan, his ability to take over a game at anytime was a amazing to watch, and as good as he was always working on the weak parts of his game so he could be the complete athlete."
How do you relax?
"Music, movies and when I get chance some power kiting on the beach."
What would you do for a living if you weren’t an athlete?
"Not sure, I always wanted to be a car designer when I was younger."
What do you think is your greatest asset?
"My determination to be the best I can be."
What do you think is your greatest weakness?
"Catching up on emails and paperwork organisation!"
What keeps you motivated to train and compete?
"The feeling you get when you stand on the top of the podium, listening to the national anthem. It’s pretty addictive."
What gets you out of bed on a cold morning to go and train?
"Knowing that if I don’t, then my competitors maybe out getting in miles I’m not."
How do you keep cycling when it starts to hurt?
"Knowing that pain is temporary, however the feeling of winning lasts forever."
Describe yourself in 3 words
"Honest, focussed, patient"
What does cycling mean to you?
"Freedom."
I would like to be remembered for?
"Pushing the boundaries of Paralympic sport and being a role model for disabled people."
If you were a superhero, who would you be?
"It’d be one of two, either The Hulk, as I’m not the best when I’m angry. Or IronMan as his suit is the pinnacle of prosthetics!"
If you had a theme tune, what would it be?
"'Underdog' by Kasabian"
Complete these sentences:
"In my spare time, I am most likely to be found...Doing as little as possible, but wish I still lived by the beach, as I used to love sitting on the sand and listening to the waves breaking."
"The most important thing in life is... Friends and family"
"The scariest thing in life is... Being alone."
More
Following a successful swimming career which saw him win 23 international medals (14 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze) over 10 years, Jody’s career path took a change in 2005 after a ride on the boards of the Newport Velodrome. His potential was spotted by one of the coaches there during an open day.
After another ride on the track in Manchester, he entered the 2005 national championships and in his first ride, broke the British record for the flying 200. Still swimming on the GB team, Jody got in contact with the Newport Velo squad who trained at the velodrome. His times caught the attention of the GB coaches, and he was invited to a time trial for a place on the 2006 Paralympic world cup team.
Success there brought him a place in the team sprint alongside Darren Kenny and Mark Bristow, and they went on to set a new world record. After that race, Jody hung up his trunks and goggles for the last time and made the transition to the British Cycling team.
In the summer of 2006 he won his first individual gold medal at the World Track Championships in Aigle Switzerland, breaking the WR in the process. From that victory he has gone onto become the fastest solo Paralympian on a bike and won multiple medals on the world stage and became one of only a handful of athletes that have become Paralympic champion in two different sports.
In 2009 he was made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for his services to disability sport and in 2011 was named BBC East's Disabled Sports Personality of the Year.