Tag: Disability Sport Fife

Portrait photo of Stefan Hoggan-Radu smiling to camera, wearing a suit

From the Pool to Politics

Stefan Hoggan-Radu speaks about his journey in sport and life, as a celebration of the LGBTQ+ Rainbow Laces Campaign.

Stefan Hoggan-Radu has represented the LGBTQ+ community on many occasions as an elite Para athlete. Since his retirement from competitive sport he has continued to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in the political world, currently holding the position as Councillor for North East Fife.

A now proud spokesperson for disability and LGBTQ+ rights, his personal journey of self-love and acceptance was filled with challenges. Bullied throughout school for having a disability, Hoggan-Radu was apprehensive to share his sexual orientation.

At 23 years-old he was training as a British triathlete and was worried about the reaction that he would get from his fellow athletes and the triathlon community after coming out. However, when he came out he had nothing but acceptance from his peers and surrounding community.

When asked how this impacted his performance in sport, Hoggan-Radu explained that this emotional strain didn’t impact his results when competing. However, he recognises the impact that it had on his long term mental health, with him appreciating that this would have ultimately effected his training performance and routine.

Before triathlon, swimming was his first sport which saw him compete on the international stage. After missing out on the 2014 Common Wealth Games by 0.02 seconds, he took the tough decision to retire from swimming.

His involvement with Para swimming paved the way for his political career. After becoming a member of the Young Person’s Sport Panel, he embarked on a trip to America, through an exchange with Blaze sport. This trip was incredibly insightful, getting to analyse policy and procedures along with attending the British Embassy in Washington as a representative. This partly influenced his decision to enter the field of politics.

His personal experience of being bullied at school highlighted the, “real injustice around how disabled individuals are treated. They aren’t represented.” This was something that he wanted to change.

When asked what inclusivity means to him, not only as a former athlete but also a member of the SNP, he shared a memorable moment that took place following the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

When he was going to training, a child saw him and their first reaction was, “Mum, that is really cool. That man only has one arm. He could be in the Paralympics!”

Hoggan-Radu credits UK broadcasters for striving to be more inclusive and have better visual representation on screen. As a result of broadcasting the Paralympics, this child saw a disability and a future for them competing in sport.

He finds this memory very heartwarming and he believes that if more people see a disability, we can create a more accepting and inclusive society, which ultimately, will make the world a better place.

The Rainbow Laces Campaign concluded on Sunday (10th) and leads the way on supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport, fitness and physical activity. Scottish Disability Sport are proud to support the Rainbow Laces Campaign and will continue to promote and encourage a fully inclusive society.

Disability Sport Fife logo

Outstanding Performances by Fife Athletes in Edinburgh

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) considers the East Series Cross Country programme organised by scottishathletics and Scottish Disability Sport as one of the major successes in the development of athletics in the east of Scotland. DSF member organisation schools entered over 90 athletes for Round 3 of the East Series at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy and for round 4 at Peffermill in Edinburgh on 21st February, around 50 athletes from Bell Baxter HS, Woodmill HS, Balwearie HS and Lochgelly HS made the journey across the Forth. Athletes are awarded points over the four rounds of the East Series to determine the overall year group champions. In round 4 there were once again many fine Fife athlete performances.

The introduction of the 500 metres race has encouraged a number of novice performers to take up the sport. Eilidh Lennox (S2) and Richy Stacey (S2) from Bell Baxter HS fell in to this category and they recorded winning performances in the girls and boys S2 races.

In the girls 1K, Fife schools produced all but one of the fastest year group times. Sophie Coughlin Bell Baxter HS S1 – 5:58; Amy Dignan Lochgelly HS S2 – 7:39; Megan Wilson Woodmill HS S3 – 6:45; Kerry Kotlewski Bell Baxter HS S4 – 7:23; Taylor McDowall Balwearie HS S6 – 8.58. Sophie is only a first year pupil yet she ran the fastest time of all the year group winners.

Once again in the boys 1K races it was a similar story. There were year group winners from Fife schools from first year through to sixth year. Nathan Smith Woodmill HS S1 – 7:21; Edwin Barron Woodmill HS S2 – 4:58; Owen Handley Woodmill HS S3 – 5:55; Arran Howe Bell Baxter HS S4 – 4:41; Reece Dickson Balwearie HS S5 – 5:08; Cameron Healy Balwearie HS S6 – 6:22. Connor Brown S3 Woodmill HS recorded the fastest time of the day for an athlete with a physical impairment and the seventh fastest overall time of any 1K athlete – 5:18. Well done to Arran Howe S4 who recorded the fastest 1K time of the day.

Twins Louise and Michelle Harley from Lochgelly HS S4 finished first and second in the girls 2K race with Louise crossing the line first in 14:56. In the equivalent event for boys Mathew Blair Woodmill HS S5 ran the fastest overall 2K time of 10:32 and Alex Evans from Balwearie HS the fastest S4 time.

All the Fife athletes then waited anxiously to find out the overall results for the 2017 East Series Cross Country. Team Fife headed back to the kingdom reflecting on another successful east Series and looking forward to the Fife cross Country Championships at the Beveridge Park and the Scottish Championships at Bellahouston Park later in the year.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife