My journey into cycling wasn’t the smoothest, but it’s one that I’m incredibly proud of. I’m Daphne Schrager, a C2 para cyclist, and this is my story from the start.
The first time I rode a bike, it was for testing with the national Paralympic squad at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester. I was absolutely terrified. I remember Helen Scott, an absolute legend of the sport, telling me, "Daffs, just keep pedalling around the velodrome," but it felt so scary. Somehow, I managed to make it to the top of the track, and that was a huge victory for me.
My first experience on the road was, honestly, dreadful. I fell off five times before I even got out of the car park! But I had people around me, like Steve Cramshaw, a talent academy coach who was there to help. Despite the rough start, I kept coming back, determined to improve. The COVID-19ockdown ended up being a blessing because it gave me time to improve my skills, like clipping in and out of the pedals—a skill that Kadeena Cox, another incredible para athlete, helped me master.
Eventually, I made it onto the GBCT Paralympic programme, and that was when everything changed. Suddenly, I was training alongside legends like Dame Sarah Storey, Jody Cundy, and Jaco Van Gass. Jaco has been like a mentor to me, and now we’re even in the same training group. It’s been an incredible experience, traveling the world and competing. Being selected for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is still something I can hardly believe.
Growing up, opportunities to cycle weren’t readily available for me. I have cerebral palsy, and back then, adaptations on bikes weren’t as common. I didn’t come from a sporty background; I grew up on a farm in Wiltshire, surrounded by sheep and chickens, not bikes. But we made it work. That’s why I think campaigns like Limitless, which aim to get more people with disabilities into cycling, are so important. They provide opportunities that weren’t there for me as a child.
Training with icons of the sport has been both exciting and daunting. But honestly, they’re some of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet. I remember sitting next to Katy Marchant in a track session, starstruck because she knew my name! It’s that kind of environment where no one is above anyone else, and everyone cheers each other on. People like Blaine Hunt, who’s been a huge supporter of mine, keep me motivated even when things get tough.
If I could talk to my younger self, Little Daphne would probably laugh and say, "You’re kidding, you’re going to the Paralympics!?" It’s something I always wanted but never thought would come true. Now, I’m here, and I want to tell others: don’t write yourself off. You can do more than you think.
Watching the London 2012 Paralympic Games was a turning point for me. Seeing athletes with the same challenges as me competing on the world stage made me believe anything is possible. Now, I’m part of that story, and I hope it resonates with others. If you think something is impossible, it might not be—you just need to find a way to make it happen.
