Esme O’Connell is one of Chorleywood’s most promising young sporting stars.
The fourteen year old recently won a Bronze medal at the England Athletics AAA and at the UK CAU Senior Disability Champs at Bedford Stadium Esme overcame her nerves in long jump winning a bronze medal (Gold being won by Paralympian Stef Reid who competed at Rio!). Also at National level she received two Gold medals (100m and long jump) at the England Athletics Age group Disability Championships at Bedford Stadium then last month another Gold in long jump at 2016 School Games held at Loughborough Uni.
It was when Esme was in the final year of Russell School that the family realised her sporting potential.
“Esme had epilepsy at the age of three which left her with learning disabilities so she was academically behind her peers at school” says Mum Vanessa O’ Connell, “She had always been speedy but when she left her friends standing in a Sports Day race we were so happy that she had found something she really excelled in.”
Esme no longer suffers from epilepsy but struggles daily with things others take for granted. Athletics has become a passion and she trains twice a week in sprint training and long jump at Dacorum and Tring Athletics Club. He latest PB (personal best) for 100m is 12.7 seconds,
“She competes in track and field class T20/F20” explains Vanessa, “Esme’s national classification has just been confirmed by British Athletics and proceeding with international classification!”
Esme is usually up against much taller girls, many built like Olympians, and doesn’t always realise her own ability. She was recently impressed by a 4.1m long jump distance when her own PB is currently 4.51m. There seems to be no stopping her!”
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