A University of Winchester BMX rider plagued by back injury is on the road to recovery which she hopes will end with medal success at this year’s World Championships.
First-year Sports Psychology student Harriet Alexander, 18, has been selected to ride in the championships to be held in Glasgow in August even though she hasn’t been on a bike for more than a month.
However, her previous fast times meant the talented teen received dispensation from the British Cycling selectors.
Harriet believes the immense strain she puts on her body during races, particularly pushing hard out of the start gate, has damaged the intercostal muscles around her rib cage causing her sharp pains when she breathes deeply.
The Hertfordshire teenager first rode in the World Championships in Belgium as a 15-year-old when she competed in the Challenge Class for her age group.
Since then, her racing career has been severely disrupted – first by covid then by injury when she was 17.
Despite these setbacks Harriet gained one of the University’s two Sports Excellence Awards. Each award is worth £500 per annum, with the added benefit of the University’s Health Clinic Physiotherapy support, Strength & Conditioning Coaching and complimentary use of the University Gym.
Now senior lecturer Chris Ford, Strength and Conditioning Course Lead at University of Winchester, and the university’s physios have put together a programme of treatments and exercise to get Harriet back in the saddle.
“Chris and physio Liam Newton have been great helping me with exercises to strengthen my back,” says Harriet.
“I’m so excited at being chosen for the worlds and this has really helped me focus on my rehab and improving my strength and power.”
Chris Ford believes that Harriet was like many talented athletes who train hard for their sports but break down because have done little strength and conditioning work.
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He explains that although Harriet suffers pain in her ribcage the root of the problem is in her shoulders caused by hunching over the handlebars of her BMX bike.
“We are working on her posture and movement, so her shoulders re-align, so she can move properly,” says Chris.
His team has also devised a programme of exercises to build up Harriet’s general body strength to make her more robust.
“A lot of athletes are restricted in their movements because they have not had the correct training until they reach elite level,” says Chris.
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Harriet will be competing in the Challenger Class at Glasgow, down from the elite level, but she hopes one day to compete the Olympics
She first rode a BMX as a six-year-old and was soon winning regional championships, representing her home-town club, Royston Rockets.
Since taking up her place the University she has ridden with Andover BMX Club and has also helped with coaching there and at Gosport BMX.
“There aren’t many girl coaches in BMX and I really enjoy it,” said Harriet, who hopes to continue coaching long after her days of competing are over.
The Sports Excellence Awards are overseen by Helen Thomas – the University’s Sports Facilities and Development Manager.
Helen says: “While Harriet has been injured, it was important to us to offer her one of these awards, as she has already proven quality & talents within her sport and knowing that the additional support from the Physio and S&C coaches would really benefit her future career.
“Harriet is a very determined person who is giving herself every chance of achieving her dreams, we are glad to be able to support her on her journey.”
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