She is the fastest woman on the planet on two feet and three wheels and now Frame Runner Kayleigh Haggo has the 2024 Paralympics in her sights.
The 22-year-old from Maybole, Ayrshire, holds six world records in the electrifying parasport - formerly known as RaceRunning - in which athletes run using three-wheeled running frames without pedals.
Kayleigh, who has cerebral palsy and struggled to even stand up as a child, is now smashing records every time she competes at European and World Championship level.
The inspirational athlete is now waiting to hear whether Frame Running has made it onto the Paralympic programme and if so, she will be heading to Paris in three years time.
Young Scot 2021 award winner Kayleigh, who is helping us launch our search for the Young Scot stars of 2022, said: “It has been quite a year for me. I won the Young Scot Health & Wellbeing Award in April and since then I have smashed four world records and won two golds at the European Championships.
“I hold the current world records in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5K distances and am waiting with baited breath to see if Frame Running is to be included in the 2024 Paralympics.
“It is in the provisional programme and we should hear any day now whether it has made it to the final line up. If it does it will be a life changer for me as it will allow me to become a full-time professional athlete.
“The sport will be entitled to National Lottery Funding which means I would be able to start the intensive training needed to get me to Paris in 2024. If I am selected for Team GB it will be a dream come true.
“At the minute I am working full time and fitting in training round that. I’m managing to do two hours a day six or seven times a week but it is exhausting so being able to concentrate on sport will be a game changer.”
Kayleigh, who is an Active Schools co-ordinator for South Ayrshire and also runs Inspire - a sports project for kids and young adults with disabilities, added: “I seem to have peaked at exactly the right moment and my times just keep getting better and better. My 100m record stands at 18.11 seconds and I ran the 5K in a record-breaking time of 20 minutes 8 seconds in my first ever attempt at that distance.
“I’ve been out with a rib injury but I’m back training and hopefully will continue to break records on the road which I hope will lead to Paris 2024.
“Poland, Denmark, Great Britain and the USA lead the way in women’s Frame Running so if I make it to the Paralympics I will be going for a medal.”
Kayleigh started Frame Running when she was 11 gave up the sport when she was 13 to concentrate on swimming. She said: “I topped for four years because I was in pain with my hips and wasn’t enjoying the racing aspect. I took a step back and swam for Scotland instead, which strengthened my legs and hips.
“My heart was set on swimming but when I was 17 Frame Running became recognised as a world para event and my old coach asked if I would like to come back to it. Within weeks I was back back on a frame and running just as fast as I had before I stopped.”
Role model Kayleigh, who has just bought a house in Prestwick with her boyfriend Kevin Brown, 25, hopes her success will inspire other young people with disablities to give sport a chance as it has changed her life.
She said: “I don’t let anything hold me back or get in my way. If I want to do something I will do it. Sport has helped my outside life too. Ive got a car, a career and a mortgage. Sport has taught me to be independent and it can do the same for others like me.
“I hope I can be a role model for others. I have been trying to give young people like me a voice through the Inspire project which offers a range of sports. I want them to realise disability is not an obstacle to excelling as an athlete.
“I didn’t know para sport existed until my mum took me to London 2012. Since then disability sport has been given a spotlight and there are classes and clubs running all over the country.”
Kayleigh was just three when she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and credits her mum Sharon’s never give up attitude for getting her to where she is today.
She said: “I wasn’t meeting any of my milestones. It took me an age to learn to stand up and walk. My mum pushed me to be independent. Slacking was forbidden. She made me get up and do things.
“My cousin who is the same age as me wanted to do ballet and I said I wanted to go too. My mum told me I could but only if I stood up and walked by myself, so I did and that can-do attitude has never left me.
“I have been fortunate to be surrounded by strong women like my mum and my two grans who have made me realise the impossible is possible if I work hard enough.”
Kayleigh said winning a Young Scot award was one of the proudest moments of her life and hopes our readers will get nominating.
She said: “It was an honour to be up there alongside so many other incredible winners. It was brilliant to be recognised for not just my sporting success but also the work I do in the community.Young people are the future of this country and it is important to celebrate their achievements.”
Today we launch our search for the stars of 2022, the nation’s young heroes aged 11 to 26 who are making a difference.
Over the last 16 years the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards have celebrated the exceptional contributions and humbling achievements of young people.
Our awards recognise young people in 12 categories, including enterprise, volunteering, arts, sport and the environment.
One of the category winners will be crowned the overall Young Scot of 2022 and will follow in the footsteps of 2021 champions Jack Mullen, 15, and Alfie King, 13, from Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, who sang outside local care homes to cheer up residents who were not able to see their families during the pandemic.
Sunday Mail editor Lorna Hughes said: “It is a privilege for this newspaper to help salute the achievements of our young heroes. We look forward to honouring the young people who have played a part in helping and making a difference to their communities in what has been an exceptionally challenging 18 months.”
Kirsten Urquhart, Chief Executive (Interim) at Young Scot, said: “The Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards is back for 2022 and we’re excited to celebrate the incredible achievements of Scotland’s young people.
“We continue to be absolutely blown away by the inspirational stories of young people from across Scotland. It’s an honour to be able to shine a spotlight on their achievements.”
Visit www.youngscotawards.com for more details. Nominations close on February 13, 2022
Categories
Young Hero
This award is for an extraordinary young person or group who deserves special recognition for their bravery. Someone who has shown amazing courage, battled the odds or showed incredible perseverance.
Community
This award celebrates the work accomplished by a young person or group that improves the lives of other people within a community.
Volunteering
This award recognises young volunteers across Scotland who selflessly donate their time and energy free of charge to help other people.
Unsung Hero
Do you know a young Scot or group who goes the extra mile but never asks for any recognition or reward? This award is for someone who has overcome difficult personal circumstances or risen to a challenge.
Enhancing Education
sponsored by Skills Development Scotland
This award is for a young person or group who have truly influenced education in their community either by
providing access and opportunities for others or by influencing change in education for their communities.
Sport
sponsored by SportScotland
Across Scotland, young people – through their efforts and determination – are achieving extraordinary things in grassroots sport. This award celebrates sporting stars of the future.
Health and Wellbeing
This award is for young people who are involved in supporting and inspiring others to improve their physical and mental health, are looking to change policy or services or are involved in health charities.
Equality and Diversity
This award recognises a young person or group who are working tirelessly to promote equality, diversity and inclusion or challenge prejudice and discrimination against age, race, gender, cultures and identity.
Arts
This is your opportunity to celebrate a young person’s contribution to arts and culture in Scotland. Are they inspiring others to express themselves through arts or making a difference to their local community?
Entertainment
There are so many ways to entertain – this award is not just for the famous but for the stars in our midst who entertain us every day.
Environment
sponsored by First Bus
Do you know a young person or a group of young people who give their time and effort to help protect the world for future generations? This award is for them.
Enterprise
This award is for a young person or a business run by young people who have demonstrated entrepreneurial flair.
Young Scot of the Year
sponsored by Young Scot
The overall winner chosen from the 12 category winners
