Leeds Paralympic champion loses sports funding during stint on reality show

Leeds's Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox has had her elite UK Sports funding suspended while she takes part in a reality TV show.
Kadeena Cox, who is taking part in The JumpKadeena Cox, who is taking part in The Jump
Kadeena Cox, who is taking part in The Jump

British Athletics said today that Cox, 25 - who won four medals in at the Rio Paralympics including golds in athletics and cycling - has had her funding withdrawn while she competes in Channel 4’s winter sports show The Jump.

A British Athletics spokesman said: “Kadeena Cox will be participating on the The Jump on Channel 4 in the coming weeks and British Athletics can confirm that her UK Sport funding supported by the National Lottery will be suspended (from January 1 2017) until she returns to training and proves fitness.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Due to the nature of the activities on the show, the athlete cannot continue to be supported by the World Class Performance Programme during this time. However, we wish her all the best with the programme and look forward to welcoming her back to the sport after the show.”

File photo dated 22/03/2016 of Sir Bradley Wiggins who is set to turn his attention to winter sports as he takes part in celebrity skiing competition The Jump. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 3, 2017. The eight-time Olympic medallist will follow in the footsteps of sporting stars such as rower Sir Steve Redgrave, gymnast Beth Tweddle and swimmer Rebecca Adlington, all of whom were forced to pull out of the competition due to injuries. See PA story SHOWBIZ Wiggins. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA WireFile photo dated 22/03/2016 of Sir Bradley Wiggins who is set to turn his attention to winter sports as he takes part in celebrity skiing competition The Jump. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 3, 2017. The eight-time Olympic medallist will follow in the footsteps of sporting stars such as rower Sir Steve Redgrave, gymnast Beth Tweddle and swimmer Rebecca Adlington, all of whom were forced to pull out of the competition due to injuries. See PA story SHOWBIZ Wiggins. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire
File photo dated 22/03/2016 of Sir Bradley Wiggins who is set to turn his attention to winter sports as he takes part in celebrity skiing competition The Jump. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 3, 2017. The eight-time Olympic medallist will follow in the footsteps of sporting stars such as rower Sir Steve Redgrave, gymnast Beth Tweddle and swimmer Rebecca Adlington, all of whom were forced to pull out of the competition due to injuries. See PA story SHOWBIZ Wiggins. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Cox, who had a stroke aged 23 which led to her being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, became the first Briton since 1988 to win a medal in two sports at the same Paralympics as she won the C4-5 women’s cycling time trial and the T38 400m sprint on the athletics track at the Rio Games.

She does not have a major cycling event this year, but she would be expected to take part in the Para Athletics World Championships in London in July.

GB Taekwondo said it had “reservations” over the participation of double Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones in the show, which has a history of its celebrity competitors being forced to pull out of the competition due to injury.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Gymnast Louis Smith and eight-time Olympic medallist and former Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins have signed up.

File photo dated 22/03/2016 of Sir Bradley Wiggins who is set to turn his attention to winter sports as he takes part in celebrity skiing competition The Jump. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 3, 2017. The eight-time Olympic medallist will follow in the footsteps of sporting stars such as rower Sir Steve Redgrave, gymnast Beth Tweddle and swimmer Rebecca Adlington, all of whom were forced to pull out of the competition due to injuries. See PA story SHOWBIZ Wiggins. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA WireFile photo dated 22/03/2016 of Sir Bradley Wiggins who is set to turn his attention to winter sports as he takes part in celebrity skiing competition The Jump. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 3, 2017. The eight-time Olympic medallist will follow in the footsteps of sporting stars such as rower Sir Steve Redgrave, gymnast Beth Tweddle and swimmer Rebecca Adlington, all of whom were forced to pull out of the competition due to injuries. See PA story SHOWBIZ Wiggins. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire
File photo dated 22/03/2016 of Sir Bradley Wiggins who is set to turn his attention to winter sports as he takes part in celebrity skiing competition The Jump. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday January 3, 2017. The eight-time Olympic medallist will follow in the footsteps of sporting stars such as rower Sir Steve Redgrave, gymnast Beth Tweddle and swimmer Rebecca Adlington, all of whom were forced to pull out of the competition due to injuries. See PA story SHOWBIZ Wiggins. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

The last series of The Jump saw former Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle suffer a serious back injury during training, while swimmer Rebecca Adlington hurt her shoulder.

Sir Steve Redgrave, a five-time Olympic rowing champion, was also forced to pull out of the injury-plagued show after a series of training injuries.

A statement from GB Taekwondo to Press Association Sport read: “While we had our reservations, we understand Jade’s desire to try new challenges and to take part in this show.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We have held extensive discussions with Jade and her management and she is aware of the risks involved.

“She has made an informed decision to take part in the show and has ensured that The Jump and its production company has all the requisite cover and medical provision is in place.

“We will continue to support her as much as we can and look forward to seeing her back in training in due course.”

Sir Bradley, 36, said: “Skiing is a big passion of mine, it was a mix of that and the other committed names this year that made me want to sign up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Major retiring Olympians such as Sir Steve Redgrave have also trod this path, I see this as a sporting challenge and want to go out there and win it. Just don’t call me a celebrity.”

Retired Welsh rugby ace Gareth Thomas, Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson, former England international footballer Robbie Fowler will also be taking to the slopes.

Comedian Mark Dolan, models Caprice Bourret and Vogue Williams, TV presenter Emma Parker-Bowles, plus reality TV personality Josie Gibson, Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews and Lydia Bright of The Only Way Is Essex are also among this year’s competitors.

Related topics: