Ecover Blue Mile welcomes Plymouth's three-time gold medallist
Among the Olympic gold medallists taking part in the mass participation watersports event, the Ecover Blue Mile, is Plymouth kayaker and swimmer Steven Dodd.
Steven, 38, won three gold medals at the GB Special Olympics for people with learning difficulties. He claimed his trio of golds in the kayak competition in Nottingham earlier this year, winning the 200m, 500m and the tandem events. It means he has qualified to represent Great Britain in the World Games in Los Angeles in 2015.
He has just followed up that amazing achievement by winning the bronze medal in the 25m freestyle event at the GB Special Olympics swimming championships in Bath.
Steven was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, which is a form of autism, when he was 24-years-old. He says that sport enables him to participate in activities “the same as anybody else”.
This is his third Ecover Blue Mile, having taken part in the two previous events in Plymouth in 2010 and 2012: “I like the Ecover Blue Mile because it’s in my home town,” said Steven “and it’s raising money for the Marine Conservation Society which I like to support.”
Steven will be doing the mile-long swim and kayaking events at the Ecover Blue Mile, which takes place off Plymouth’s historic Barbican waterfront on 14-15 September.
“You give me a kayak and I’ll paddle,” said Steven, who is a member of Tamar Canoe Association. “That’s where my heart is. I just love it and I can do it like anybody else and not have a problem with it.”
Steven, who is in the Plymouth & District Special Olympics Group, swims at the Plymouth Life Centre – where Plymouth-based Lithuanian Olympic and World Champion swimmer Ruta Meilutye also trains: “Swimming was always second for me but I enjoy doing that as well,” said Steven.
“I’m really looking forward to the Ecover Blue Mile – it allows me to do what I really enjoy doing. And it will be fun to be taking part in the kayaking alongside another Olympic gold medallist, Tim Baillie.” Tim won the C2 canoe slalom title at London 2012 with canoe partner Etienne Stott.
The events at the Ecover Blue Mile are the one mile swim, kayak and stand-up paddle boarding. There is also an Aquatriathlon, which has all three disciplines and the Corporate Team Challenge, where three team members each take on one of the events.
Follow Steven’s lead and sign up today to raise money for MCS.
www.thebluemile.org
http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/
http://www.marlisco.eu/video-contest.en.html
