The club is delighted to hear Lidya Woldeselassie has been selected to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Youth Games to take place in Trinidad & Tabago between the 1st August and 11 th August. 74 nations are expected to compete and Lydia will compete in the Disability 100m and Long Jump. What a honour for this young lady who will only be 14 in a few weeks’ time.
The story behind Lidya and her journey should make everyone proud in the club. Her mum (Amleset Tewelde) and Dad (Amanuel Hagos) were part of a group of 6 Eritrean athletes who claimed asylum after the World Cross Country Championships held in Edinburgh 2008. The story behind their decision was well documented in various newspapers at the time. The club welcomed them and gave them great support not only in their athletic career but in the basic things to feel welcome in their new country. Both of them fantastic athletes in their own right competed in a number of international events and have won national titles in Scotland. A side note of interest , Amleset was also an Eritrean Road Cycle Champion.
The whole family are involved in our club helping and competing – Lydia has two younger brothers, Naod and Henoch, who go along with her to training on a regular basis. Amleset helps to coach young athletes and has just finished her Scottish Athletics introductory course to officiating.
Lidya has embraced her disability with courage, undergoing major ground breaking surgery a few years ago. This involved her learning to walk again and undertaking a strict regime of rehabilitation. A great example to all us. Lidya is coached and supported by Tracey Fox and Elaine Mackay with help from Pam Robson (Scottish athletics- National Disability Pathway Officer). Our club also supported her travel to the recent Coventry International Games where she achieved her international classification.
Lidya started athletics in our club at the age of 9 and her first competition was in the Red Star Games at Crownpoint in 2019. She has trained with all our young athletes and coaches. This last year she has been training with Tracey’s throws group and her brothers on a Tuesday night. Lidya is one of our best known and loved young athletes. She knows every young athlete in our club by name. She has also competed for Red Star AC who have had close association with the club for many years. Well done Lidya- dreams can come true.