One of Nottinghamshire’s most promising young athletes is set to receive a fundraising boost thanks to an exciting new partnership between legal and professional services group, Gateley and SportsAid.
Canoeist, Macy Kang (17) from Edwalton is determined on blazing a trail to ensure paddling becomes a sport for the masses. The funding she receives will go towards travel, accommodation and equipment, as well as providing access to online workshop support and personal development opportunities.
Kang trains at Holme Pierrepont Country Park and first started canoeing when she was spotted through a Talent Identification Programme at Rushcliffe School.
She soon made the transition onto the Super Regional Squad, before then getting called up to the England National Talent Squad (ENTS) as well as scooping gold at the British Championships at Under-14s level.
Kang remains in the ENTS setup and diligently juggles her training with studying, currently undertaking A-Levels in Biology, Psychology and Physical Education as she eyes up a place at the University of Nottingham.
It’s a fine balancing act but Kang says combining interests in the classroom with those in the water is the perfect blend for success as she now targets selection for the Junior Great Britain setup when trials come around in May.
This can be a pathway to World Championships success and Kang, who has invested the initial injection of money on a cutting-edge new boat, says the impact of the partnership can catapult her to glory.
She said: “Next year my goal is to make the Junior GB team and that’s why I get up in the mornings, and what motivates me to keep training. Hopefully if I do make the team next year then I’ll get a result in the top ten at the World Championships. That would be the ideal goal and would help me to progress forwards to the level higher than ENTS, which is the UK Programme.
“It’s nice to know that people are backing you, especially in a sport like mine where the funding is not as great as in the higher-profile sports. Stuff like getting a new boat is really helpful as they’re quite expensive and the support is going to help me progress and move up towards my goals. I’m thankful for that.”
Andrew Macmillan, partner and head of Gateley’s Nottingham office, said: “It gives us great pleasure to support Macy. She is an inspiration to so many people and we are thrilled to give her this well-deserved boost.
“At Gateley, not only do we advise clients across an extensive range of sports, we also place a great emphasis on helping our own people succeed with their physical and mental well-being. Macy has the ambition, work ethic and desire to succeed; values that align perfectly with our own business.”
SportsAid supports over 1,000 athletes each year – the vast majority aged between 12 to 18. The award they receive acts as a real motivational boost as it is often the first recognition they are given outside of their support network. These athletes are the country’s brightest sporting prospects. They are nominated to SportsAid by the governing bodies of more than 60 sports based on set criteria.
Since 1976, SportsAid has supported tens of thousands of athletes by distributing over £50 million in awards. The charity's extensive alumni stretches across the generations with Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Mo Farah, Baroness Grey-Thompson, Dame Sarah Storey, Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Katherine Grainger, Daley Thompson CBE and Denise Lewis OBE, all stand-out names.