Darren Kenny

Darren Kenny OBE (born 17 March 1970) is a British road and track racing cyclist and Paralympian. Kenny's results have made him one of his sport's biggest stars; his dominance over multiple Paralympics gave rise to his nickname of 'Daz the Destroyer'.[1]

Darren Kenny
Personal information
Full nameDarren Kenny
NicknameDaz the Destroyer
Born (1970-03-17) 17 March 1970
Salisbury, England, United Kingdom
Team information
DisciplineTrack & Road
RoleRider
Amateur team
2008 - 2009Dave Mellor Cycles
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Men's cycling
Paralympic Games
2004 Athens Individual pursuit
(CP 3)
2004 Athens Kilo
(CP 3)
2008 Beijing Individual pursuit
(CP 3)
2008 Beijing Kilo
(CP 3)
2008 Beijing Team Sprint
(LC1–4 CP3/4)
2008 Beijing Road Race
(LC3–4 CP3/4)
2004 Athens Combined Event
Road Race & Time Trial
(CP 3)
2008 Beijing Time Trial
(CP 3)
2012 London Mixed Team Sprint
(C1-5)
2012 London Individual pursuit
(C 3)

Darren Kenny OBE retired from competition in 2013. He is now the founder/owner of Estrella Bikes.

Career

Born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, Kenny now lives in Verwood, Dorset.[2] Having been involved in cycling since he was young, Kenny started racing at the age of eleven. In 1988, at the age of 19, an accident at the Tour of Ireland whilst descending the Wicklow Gap looked likely to have ended his career. He had damaged his neck, but did not realise the extent of the damage at the time.[1] A series of accidents after that exacerbated his condition, as Kenny put it: "until I was just lying on the sofa putting on weight and on heavy medication."[3]

At the age of 30, Kenny returned to cycling, initially to improve his fitness, but he soon began racing once more.[1] Encouraged by a friend, Kenny contacted British Cycling to find out more about Paralympics racing. He competed at the British National Track Championships, achieving some good times, he was invited onto the Paralympic squad.[3]

In January 2008, Kenny was nominated for "Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability" Laureus World Sports Awards, which recognise sporting achievement during the previous year.[4]

Kenny managed to set a new world record in the preliminary round of the Individual pursuit (CP 3) at the 2008 Paralympics.[5] The new record was 5.812 seconds faster than his own previous world record.[6]

Kenny was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.[7] Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by Bournemouth University in 2009 and an Honorary Degree Masters in Science by Brighton University.

Awards include: Variety Club Disabled Sportsman 2004, BBC South Sports Personality of the Year 2005, BBC South West Paralympian of the Year 2008, BBC South Disabled Sports Personality of the Year 2004, Sports Journalist Award for Disabled Sportsman of the Year.

Kenny also received an honorary doctorate of arts from Bournemouth University, as well as an honorary masters of science degree from University of Brighton.

Results
2004
 Gold, Kilo, Paralympics, Athens
 Gold, Pursuit, Paralympics, Athens
 Silver, Combined Road Race and Time Trial, Paralympics, Athens
2005
World Para-Cycling Best Hour Performance (C3): 41.817 km
 Gold, 200m, World Disability Championships
 Gold, Kilo, World Disability Championships
 Gold, Pursuit, World Disability Championships
 Gold, Team Sprint, World Disability Championships
 Gold, Road Race, World Disability Championships
 Silver, Time Trial, World Disability Championships
2006
 Gold, Kilo, World Disability Championships
 Gold, Pursuit, World Disability Championships
 Silver, Time Trial, World Disability Championships
 Silver, Road Race, World Disability Championships
2007
 Gold, Kilo, World Disability Championships
 Gold, Pursuit, World Disability Championships
 Bronze, Time Trial, World Disability Championships
 Bronze, Road Race
2008
 Gold Men's 1km time trial (CP 3), Paralympics, Beijing
 Gold Men's team sprint (LC1–4 CP3/4), Paralympics, Beijing (with Mark Bristow and Jody Cundy)
 Gold Individual pursuit (CP 3), Paralympics, Beijing
 Gold Men's road race (LC 3–4/CP 3), Paralympics, Beijing
 Silver Men's road time trial (CP 3), Paralympics, Beijing
2009
World Para-Cycling hour record (C3): 40.516 km
2012
 Silver Mixed Team Sprint (C1-5), Paralympics, London[8]
 Bronze Individual pursuit (C 3), Paralympics, London[9]
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References
  1. "BBC Dorset - People - Darren Kenny". BBC. 15 May 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  2. "Athlete Biography - KENNY Darren". Beijing Paralympics official website. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008.
  3. Chris Sidwells (4 August 2008). "Around Poole Harbour With Darren Kenny". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  4. "Laureus World Sports Awards, St. Petersburg 2008". Dareen Kenny official website. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  5. "Men's Individual Pursuit (CP 3) Qualifying" (PDF). 2008GamesBeijing.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  6. "Kenny's record could go in final". China.org.cn. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  7. "No. 58929". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2008. p. 10.
  8. "Mixed C1 to 5 Team Sprint". LOCOG. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  9. "Men's Ind.C3 Pursuit". LOCOG. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
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