Rachel Leck: “It’s a sport that requires patience, power, and precision”

Paralympic thrower hopeful Rachel Leck is one step closer to her dream of competing on the world stage – thanks to a new £100,000 performance scheme supporting Jersey’s top athletes.

Over £100,000 is set to be distributed to 23 local athletes as part of a new performance scheme helping islanders to excel in their chosen sport.

Jersey Sport this month announced that a total of £103,500 has been allocated to allow the athletes – who compete in 11 different sports – to access professional development workshops on the Performance Sport Programme.

One of the athletes set to benefit from the scheme is 28-year-old Paralympic thrower hopeful Rachel Leck.

Managing to balance her elite training alongside a full-time job, Rachel, who is a qualified accountant, has represented England and was recently selected by British Athletics for the prestigious Paralympic Futures Academy alongside her coach at Spartan Athletics.

Rachel, who has cerebral palsy, is now ranked 13th in world para athletics, just a few years after taking up the sport.

Having set her sights on competing in the F38 category of this year’s World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, Express sat down with Rachel to chat about her sporting ambitions, and how the new funding programme will help her to achieve them…

Can you tell us about your sporting journey so far?

I have always been sporty from a young age, and recently found some of my old Jersey Spartans medals going all the way back to 2007 when I used to be part of the endurance running group. I have also played tennis at U18 county level before I started seeing a PT and going to the gym after getting repeated injuries at university.

I started my para sporting journey in para-powerlifting after joining the Jersey Sport Foundation in 2018, and had the honour of representing Great Britain at the World Junior Bench Press Championships in Tokyo, and the European Bench Press Championships in Luxembourg in 2019 I also competed in the British Para Powerlifting championships up to 2022.

However, due to classification challenges, I transitioned to para-athletics, focusing on the discus throw.

Over the past two years, I’ve made significant progress, after only taking it seriously in 2023 after fracturing my ankle in 2021, which massively impacted my throwing confidence.

In the last year I received international classification and improved my World Para Athletics ranking from 23rd to 13th, increasing my personal best by over nine metres. I also achieved some key milestones, including becoming UK No.1 in my category, winning silver at my first England Championships, and earning my first England vest when representing England at an international meeting in Manchester.

At the end of last year, I was selected to attend the Commonwealth Sport GAPS Camp in Mauritius, and was also selected for the UK Athletics Paralympic Futures Academy, which focuses on supporting athletes who have demonstrated potential to succeed as future Paralympic Games.

Did you expect to get this far in your sport?

When I first started, I never imagined I’d be competing internationally and that it would take me to so many places.

My journey in sport has been full of unexpected turns, even before para sport, to para powerlifting to para athletics, but my ambition and drive have always been there. Once I realised the possibility to compete in discus, I set my sights on the UK rankings to start, but every step I take now is geared towards competing at the highest level and making that a reality.

What do you love about your sport?

I love the technical challenge of discus. There’s always something to refine, whether it’s footwork, timing, or strength.

It’s a sport that requires patience, power, and precision, which makes every improvement incredibly rewarding.

I also love the competitive side of it, chasing personal bests, climbing the world rankings, and testing myself against the best in the world.

How do you feel about being chosen to benefit from the Performance Sport Programme?

Being part of the Jersey Sport Performance Programme is a huge privilege.

It’s a great opportunity to access high-level support, training, and resources, which can make a real difference as I push towards my goals.

It’s also inspiring to be surrounded by other athletes who are striving to be the best in their respective sports.

How will the programme assist your progress?

The programme provides vital support, from strength and conditioning and sports psychology to nutrition and anti-doping specialists.

Having that backing means I can focus on fine-tuning my performance, staying injury-free, and making the necessary improvements to compete on the world stage.

It also helps with the logistical side of being an elite athlete, ensuring I have the right resources to train and compete at a high level without cost being an issue.

What is your sporting dream?

My dream is to compete at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Every goal needs to be broken down into more manageable ones and my goal for this year is to qualify for the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, which would be a massive step toward my ultimate dream of competing at the Paralympics.

I want to represent my country on the biggest stage and prove to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to and that all the hard work has been worth it.