3:17pm Thursday 8th January 2009
PARALYMPIC cyclist Darren Kenny was awarded an OBE in the New Years honours list.
Darren, who lives in Verwood, said: “I’m over the moon. I have known since the middle of November and it has been quite difficult to keep it a secret.”
His mum, Carol Roberts, said: “How do you put it into words? I am just so proud.
“I went to do my shopping and it took twice as long. People say “Are you Darren’s mum?” I’m going round in a daze!”
Darren, who came home from Beijing in September with four gold medals and one silver, is the most successful British Paralympic cyclist.
He won gold medals for the men’s individual pursuit, men’s 1km time trial, men’s team sprint along with fellow cyclists Mark Bristow and Jody Cundy and for the men’s individual road race.
He won the silver medal for the men’s individual time trial.
Darren attended Hillside First School in Verwood and then cranborne Middle School and Queen Elizabeth’s Upper School in Wimborne.
He first took an interest in cycling aged 11, when he watched the Milk Round with his grandparents.
Darren went on to join the Bournemouth Arrows Cycling Club and began competing in a series of junior competitions, winning some of those.
A bike accident at 18 during the 1988 Junior Tour of Ireland put a temporary hold on his cycling career, but he began racing again in 2000 to keep fit and to give a good example to his son Brandon.
He was picked for the England team and came back from the Paralympic Games in Athens with two gold medals and one silver.
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