Aileen McGlynn
22 June 1973 –
Paralympic Tandem Cyclist
Aileen McGlynn OBE is a Scottish paralympic tandem cyclist, tandem piloted until 2009 by Ellen Hunter, piloted by Helen Scott until 2012 and currently piloted by Louise Haston.
Born in Paisley and grew up in Glasgow, McGlynn was partially sighted at birth, she joined the Glenmarnock Wheelers cycling club at the age of 18 but was initially reluctant to tell her club mates about her disability. However when the club worked it out they were very supportive. She is also a patron of an organization called 'Crank It Up' who aim to provide cycling for people of all abilities.
Before McGlynn became a full-time athlete, she was a trainee actuary with a degree in mathematics, statistics and management science from the University of Strathclyde.
McGlynn and Hunter broke the flying 200m women’s tandem World record in April 2004.
At the 2006 IPC Track Cycling World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, the pair won gold in the Tamdem Kilo (VI), setting a world record of 1:10.795 in the process and winning a Rainbow Jersey, they ranked 17th among 33 male competitors.
McGlynn and Hunter, coached by Barney Storey, once again broke the World Record at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester, in a time of 1:10.381, but despite this, failed to gain a podium position.
The pair represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, winning gold in the Kilo (B&VI 1–3), setting a new world record time of 1:09.066 in the process, and in the individual pursuit (B&VI 1–3).
Already a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), McGlynn was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours. She was also named Alumna of the Year by the University of Strathclyde in 2009.
McGlynn took a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, riding alongside Louise Haston. The pair were defeated in the final by the English duo of Scott and Sophie Thornhill. McGlynn got a ring to go with her silver medal after her partner Graeme Hinchliffe proposed in front of the cheering crowd in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
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