INSPIRATIONAL WEDNESDAY: Kiera Byland, athlete with Honor from the Queen

Kiera Byland is a Special Olympics star athlete – a cyclist, who earned six gold medals over two World Games.

She first got involved with Special Olympics in 2013 and quickly became one of Britain’s best cyclist, winning three gold medals at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. She added three more golds to the collection at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. Kiera also has competed locally and nationally in swimming and horse riding.

Because Special Olympics has meant so much in her life, she has used her platform to help others as an instructor and ambassador. Wanting to give back, she sought out opportunities to teach children the things she’s learned and help empower them through Special Olympics.

Kiera also has all the necessary qualifications to work with young children—with and without intellectual disabilities—to gain stability on balance bikes and to teach them swimming.

Kiera has become deeply involved with Special Olympics Great Britain, serving as a board member and vice chair of its Athlete Leadership Team. She is the chair of the Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Athlete Leadership Council, vice chair of the Global Athlete Leadership Council and even became a Special Olympics Athlete Consultant.

She is extra proud of the British Empire Medal awarded to her for her services to sport. The British Empire Medal is granted by the Crown in recognition of meritorious civil or military service. Kiera was awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to sport in 2021, which included an invite to the Queen’s birthday honors list. 

To round out her skill set, Kiera has received college diplomas and certificates in sport, marketing and business enterprise to hopefully make a career out of her current work.

Kiera Byland’s medals and honors are more than well-deserved, as she is truly an inspiring athlete and a person, who wants to give back.

Source: https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/kiera-bylands-medals-include-honor-from-the-queen?locale=en

Photo source: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/other_sport/15452490.kiera-byland-gearing-up-for-glory-at-special-olympics-national-summer-games/

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