Disabled law student is Sportswoman of the Year

17 Jul 2014

Eleni honoured for determination and commitment – and an exceptional year of sport

A first-year law student has bagged the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Sportswoman of the Year Award.

Inspirational athlete Eleni Papadopoulos has conquered multiple disabilities to excel as an elite disability swimmer and paratriathlete, as well being a successful student.

This season she smashed 10 British, European and World records and qualified for the Great Britain team at August’s IPC European Championships at Eindhoven.

Training more than 30 hours a week Eleni, has been the University’s highest point’s earner in BUCS league, winning a huge 54 points, twice the amount of the previous season.

Eleni was born with a weaker left side caused by cerebral palsy. But a playground fall at the age of six made her symptoms worse after she smashed bones and severed a nerve in her left arm.

She has swam since the age of two, but only realised her potential, she says, as an international athlete at 16.

Swimming, she adds, gave her a way to escape the torment of bullies at school.

Eleni is supported by the University’s Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, which provides physical strength and conditioning training as well as physiotherapy and social support.

She trains as part of the City of Manchester Aquatics Swim Team programme under the guidance of coach and Manchester chemistry graduate Mark McKenna.

In 2013 Eleni was also given Undergraduate of the Year Award by the Faculty of Humanities and this year the 2013/14 Sports Woman of the Year at the Athletic Union (Student Sport’s Clubs) Awards Dinner.

Eleni said: “It’s hard to balance my sport and other activities, but as I’ve been swimming at an international level from the age of 16 – I’m sort of used to it.

“My days are quite full: the daytime is dominated by my studies and the swimming pool before and after - getting up at 4am four times a week.

“I do need my time to rest in the evening – as if I’m overtired, my epilepsy could be a problem and that could mean I get behind in my training.

“But with decent time management and pre-planning I do manage to fit everything in."

She added: “In my first year at uni I found it hard: living away from home was so new and it was hard to combine life in halls with the demands of my early morning training regime.

“But with the great support of the University and my coach, I’ve learned how to handle living away from home; it’s all coming together very nicely now.”

University Sport Sabbatical Officer Andy Cowan said: “I can think of no one more deserving of this award.

“Eleni has had an exceptional year of sport. Her determination and commitment this year has been exemplary and she is a fantastic ambassador for Swimming, the Athletic Union and the University.

“This is an excellent end to an excellent season for Eleni, congratulations! Well done Eleni for making us all purple and proud.”